Pronunciation Tips - Words ending in -age

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There are three ways in which words ending in -age are pronounced in English. And often times mispronounced with the pronunciations interchanged.  

Sound 1: /eɪdʒ/: Here, the syllable '-age' is stressed and rhymes with the word 'age' 

Eg: page, stage, engage, cage, rage, wage, sage

Sound 2: /ɑːʒ/: The French pronunciation takes over when a word may have a French origin. The /j/ sound is produced by raising the center of you tongue against the center of your palate but not really touching it causing an '-aa-j' effect.   

Eg: garage, vintage, sabotage, mirage, collage, camouflage, massage 

Sound 3: /ɪdʒ/: The syllable '-age' is not stressed in these words, rather, the stress is on the syllables before it. The sound is a simple '-ij' where the middle and front of your tongue touches the roof of your palate.

Eg: language, usage, vintage, manage, village, luggage, advantage, courage, average, message, garbage, marriage






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