Pronunciation: [mˈas nˈa͡ʊnz] (IPA) 
"Mass nouns" is a linguistic term used to refer to nouns that do not have plurals. In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the spelling of "mass nouns" is /mæs naʊnz/. The symbol "/" is used to enclose phonetic transcriptions, and each phoneme or sound is indicated by a specific symbol. The first sound in "mass" is the /m/ sound, followed by the short /æ/ sound. The final sound /z/ in "nouns" is an unvoiced plural morpheme.
Mass nouns, also referred to as uncountable nouns or non-count nouns, are a category of nouns that denote substances, materials, or concepts that cannot be counted or divided into separate units. These nouns are typically used to indicate a whole or a quantity of something that is treated as an undifferentiated or uncountable entity. Unlike countable nouns, such as "book" or "chair," which can be pluralized and quantified using numerical indicators, mass nouns lack a plural form or use different strategies to indicate various amounts.
Mass nouns encompass a wide range of objects, substances, and abstract concepts, including common examples like "water," "sand," "knowledge," or "furniture." They often represent collective notions, amorphous entities, or intangible qualities that do not allow distinction or separation into discrete units. These nouns typically cannot be preceded by the indefinite article "a" (e.g., "a water") and lack plural inflection (e.g., "waters") in standard English.
Furthermore, mass nouns may require specific quantifiers, such as "some," "a lot of," "a little," "much," or "a bit of," to express approximate quantities or degrees of the substance or concept they represent. While they cannot be counted individually, mass nouns can be measured or described in terms of volume, weight, or intensity, such as "a glass of water," "a pile of sand," or "a wealth of knowledge."
In summary, mass nouns are a type of noun that refers to uncountable substances, materials, or concepts that cannot be divided into separate units and lack plural forms. They represent undifferentiated wholes or quantities and often require specific quantifiers to express varying degrees or amounts.
The term "mass nouns" originated from the field of linguistics. The word "mass" in "mass nouns" refers to a type of noun that denotes something uncountable or non-discrete, such as a substance, material, or concept. These nouns are also commonly referred to as "uncountable nouns" or "non-count nouns". The term "mass" in this context comes from the Latin word "massa", meaning a lump or a mass of something. In linguistics, the concept of mass nouns contrast with "count nouns" or "countable nouns" that refer to things that can be counted or enumerated.
