2 syllables: A, las. Stress on las.
uh-LAS
/əˈlæs/
Alas is pronounced uh-LAS (/əˈlæs/). It has two syllables (A-las), with the stress on "las". Alas is a brief interjection or noun used to express sorrow or regret, or, in poetry, a more formal exclamation of lament. It can function as a standalone exclamation or appear within clauses to convey disappointment or misfortune. The word carries a traditional, somewhat archaic tone in modern usage, often found in literary or dramatic contexts.
nounAlas is a brief interjection or noun used to express sorrow or regret, or, in poetry, a more formal exclamation of lament. It can function as a standalone exclamation or appear within clauses to convey disappointment or misfortune. The word carries a traditional, somewhat archaic tone in modern usage, often found in literary or dramatic contexts.
"• Alas, I arrived too late to catch the performance."
"• The project failed, alas, despite our best efforts."
"• She sighed, alas, realizing the opportunity had slipped away."
Pronounced uh-LAS with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU /əˈlæs/. Begin with a weak schwa vowel, then sharply close the vowel in the second syllable as in ‘mass’ but shorter. Tip: keep the first syllable unstressed and brief, then deliver a crisp, open front lax vowel in the second syllable. Imagine saying ‘uh’ and then a quick ‘lass’ with a short a. You can listen to native pronunciation on Forvo or YouGlish to hear natural usage.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress on the first syllable (A-las) or making the second syllable too long (almost like ‘alas’ with a drawn-out a). Another frequent error is reducing the vowel to a full /æ/ in both syllables or blending the vowels into a single, flat sound. To correct: emphasize the second syllable with clear lip relaxation and a crisp short /æ/; keep the first syllable reduced to a schwa /ə/. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘uh-lás’ vs ‘uh-lass’ to sharpen the vowel quality.
In US/UK/AU, the second syllable carries the primary stress /ˈlæs/. Differences lie in the first vowel quality: US often retains a lighter schwa /ə/ before the stressed syllable, while some UK speakers may exhibit a slightly more centralized vowel in the first syllable. Australian English generally keeps the same /ə/ in the first syllable but may have a shorter, crisper /æ/ in the second, with less coloration in the vowel than some American varieties. The rhoticity is not a major factor here, but subtle vowel length and quality differences exist among the three.”
The difficulty centers on the sharp, brief second syllable with /æ/ and the subtle phonetic contrast between a reduced first syllable /ə/ and the stressed /læ/ onset. Learners often overextend the first vowel or shorten the second too much, flattening the contrast between syllables. The challenge is to keep the first syllable reduced and the second syllable clearly articulated without adding an extra vowel length. Focus on the precise mouth position: neutral lips, relaxed jaw, then a quick transition to a short, open /æ/ sound for /læ/.
No. The 'a' in alas is not silent. It is part of the second syllable's vowel /æ/. The first syllable uses a weak schwa /ə/. The two-syllable pattern is /əˈlæs/, with clear audible vowels in both syllables. Ensure you clearly voice the second syllable with a tight but brief /æ/ vowel: /ə/ + /ˈlæ s/—the second syllable begins with /l/ followed by /æ/ and ends with /s/.
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Alas originates from the interjection alas, dating back to Middle English and earlier. It is ultimately derived from the Old English word eala(s), related to sorrowful exclamations found across Germanic languages. The word developed as a literary exclamation used to express lament rather than a noun in early modern English, then settled into a more fixed function as a lamenting interjection or archaic noun. In Shakespearean and other Early Modern texts, alas appears frequently as a concise, emotive marker of misfortune, often at sentence boundaries to punctuate a turn of events. The form retains a formal, sometimes archaic register, commonly associated with poetry, religious prose, and period drama. First known uses appear in late medieval to early Renaissance English corpora, continuing into 17th-century literary works where it functions as a standalone lament or part of a longer phrase (e.g., “alas, that…”). Over time, its frequency declined in everyday speech but persisted in literary and stylistic contexts, maintaining its characteristic cadence and solemn tone.
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Words that rhyme with "Alas"
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