English pronunciation · Words Starting with D
Decades Pronunciation
Decades is pronounced DE-kaydz, IPA /ˈdɛkeɪdz/.
DE-kaydz
US /ˈdɛkeɪdz/ · UK /ˈdɛkeɪdz/
Syllables: DE · kaydz (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
noun (plural): Periods of ten years, counted together.
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Two Ways to Say Decades
The pronunciation changes with the meaning or the part of speech. The form above is the most common; the others are:
- de-KAYDZ, the end-stressed reading: /dɛˈkeɪdz/ (de-KAYDZ)
Decades in a Sentence
- The mill stood empty for three decades.
- Decades of neglect had rotted the beams.
- Two decades later the case came back to court.
Common Mispronunciations of Decades
Not DE-kayts
The plural buzzes as a z, because the d sitting in front of it is voiced.
Not DE-kuh-deez
Two beats only, and the second one runs kaydz as a single piece.
Tip: Dictionaries print both DE-kaydz and de-KAYDZ, and the front-stressed one is far commoner.
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