the pronunciation of "houseS"

[optimistic pessimist]

Dear all,

When you read aloud the plural form of "house",do you say /hauziz/ or /hausiz/?

I thought it's always /hauZIZ/ but my dictionary says in Amrican English it's /hausiz/.

Is this the standard in America?


Thank you!

OP

 

[bwkcaj_ca]

I'm no pronunciation expert but I would say 'hausiz' is probably
the correct pronunciation. Like most people, Canadians and Americans
are lazy when it comes to proper pronunciation so /s/ often come out /z/
in everyday speech.

 

[Rover_KE]

It's always how-ziz in BE.

Rover

 

[birdeen's call]

On this page, you will find two recordings of the pronunciations of the word.

 

[bwkcaj_ca]

My [American] dictionary agrees with Rover_KE. I stand corrected.

 

[BobK]

It's always how-ziz in BE.

Rover

For the plural noun., and always for the verb. But for the singular possessive I've heard both. (I know you can't hear an apostrophe, but this is a clue to the presence* of one if the word were to be written down).

b

PS *And even position: the house's roof with an /s/, and 'the houses' rooves' with a /z/