Great question! The word "practice" is pronounced /ˈpræktɪs/ and not /ˈpræktaɪs/ because of English pronunciation rules and how vowel sounds behave in syllables.
Why is it /ˈpræktɪs/ and not /ˈpræktaɪs/?
The "ti" sound
- In many English words, "-ice" at the end is pronounced /ɪs/, not /aɪs/.
- Example: "service" (/ˈsɜːrvɪs/), "justice" (/ˈdʒʌstɪs/), "notice" (/ˈnoʊtɪs/)
- The "i" in "-ice" does not take the long "i" sound like in "nice" (/naɪs/).
Syllable stress pattern
- The stress is on the first syllable ("prac-"), so the second syllable "-tice" is unstressed.
- Unstressed vowels in English often become the short "ɪ" sound instead of the long "aɪ".
Comparison with "practise" (British English spelling for the verb)
- The verb "practise" (UK spelling) and the noun "practice" (US & UK) are both pronounced the same: /ˈpræktɪs/.
- The pronunciation does not change even though the spelling is different in UK English.
Summary
- The word "practice" follows English phonetic rules where "-ice" is pronounced /ɪs/, not /aɪs/.
- The stress on the first syllable affects the second syllable, making it softer.
- It is the same reason why "service" is /ˈsɜːrvɪs/ and not /ˈsɜːrvaɪs/.
Let me know if you need more explanation!
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English word comparison