als is a plural noun in several languages and a common abbreviation in English. In some contexts it denotes the surname Als or refers to a plural form of the acronym ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). For pronunciation focus, treat als as a short, open vowel cluster or as a borrowed/abbrev form; its spoken form is typically a short, two- or one-syllable sequence depending on language context, not a fixed English lexical item with standard pronunciation. Mastery comes from understanding its usage context and phonetic realization in native speech.
US & AU accents are Premium
Unlock all accent variations
- Mispronouncing as a long vowel or diphthong: especially thinking /æ/ or /eɪ/ extends into /ɑːl/. Solution: segment the word as three discrete phonemes: /eɪ/ or /æ/ for the vowel, then /l/, then /s/, ensuring each is clearly produced without a trailing vowel. - Slurring /l/ and /s/: learners may merge /l/ and /s/ into a soft or fricative,” producing /æɫz/ or /als/ with a nasal. Solution: hold the alveolar contact: tip of the tongue at the alveolar ridge, blade slightly raised; release the /s/ with a small puff of air. - Vowel reduction in fast speech: both for acronym and non-English usage, vowels can weaken. Solution: maintain a crisp /eɪ/ (US) or /eɪ/ with clear lity of the /l/ and /s/; avoid replacing the vowel with a schwa in careful speech.
- US: IPA /ˈeɪ ɛl ɛs/. Stress on the first syllable; ensure a clean separation between the vowel, the /l/ and the /s/. The /eɪ/ should be open with tongue high-mid, lips neutral. - UK: Often /ˈeɪl ɛs/ in rapid speech; you might drop the schwa between letters, but maintain the /l/ + /s/ crispness. The /l/ is light but not velarized; keep it alveolar. - AU: Similar to US but with slightly more vowel reduction in casual speech; keep the three phonemes distinct in careful speech; in fast talk, you may reduce to /eɪlɛs/ or /eɪlems/ depending on speaker. IPA references: /ˈeɪ ɛl ɛs/ (US), /ˈeɪl ɛs/ (UK), /ˈeɪ ɛl ɛs/ (AU).
"The word 'als' appears in French as a plural ending, pronounced /al/ or /als/ depending on liaison."
"In German technical texts, als is a conjunction meaning 'as' or 'like', pronounced /als/."
"Researchers used the acronym ALS to refer to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, pronounced letter-by-letter /ˈeɪ ɛl ɛs/ or as an initialism in speech."
"In bilingual contexts, 'als' might be heard as a clipped form or abbreviation; listen for the surrounding vowels to determine the intended form."
Als appears across languages with different semantic roles. In German, als is a conjunction meaning 'as' or 'than', historically tied to Proto-Germanic *alþaz, evolving through Old High German als. In French and Romance contexts, als can be a plural suffix, not a standalone word but a morphological ending tied to definite articles or nouns. In English literature or science, ALS is an initialism for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, originating in the 19th–20th centuries as a medical term, rising in public usage after the 1960s. The word’s pronunciation therefore shifts with function: as a German conjunction it is pronounced /als/ with a hard /l/ and /s/; as a French plural ending it is typically silent in some contexts or realized as an intrusive vowel in liaison; as an acronym it is pronounced letter-by-letter /ˈeɪ ɛl ɛs/ in English. In multilingual corpora, als often surfaces as a clipped or borrowed form, and its phonetic realization is highly context-dependent, reinforcing the importance of listening for surrounding syntactic cues. First known uses vary by language, with Germanic usage dating earlier, while English acronym usage emerges in the 20th century.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "als" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "als" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "als" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "als"
-als sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
In typical English usage for the acronym ALS, you spell the letters: /ˈeɪ ɛl ɛs/ (ay-EL-ess). If 'als' is used as a German conjunction, pronounce it as /als/ with a clear /a/ as in 'ah', then /l/ and /s/. In fast speech, the acronym may blur to /eɪl/ or /æls/ depending on speaker. Context will usually reveal whether it’s a standalone word or initialism. Listen for whether each letter is enunciated or the word is spoken as a unit.
Common mistakes include treating ALS as a simple English word with a long single vowel, pronouncing /æls/ as in 'als' with a nasalized vowel, or slurring the /l/ into a vowel. For German usage, learners may soften the /l/ or misarticulate the final /s/ due to English sibilant tendencies. Correct by articulating /eɪ/ or /eɪ ɛl ɛs/ clearly when it’s an acronym, and by ensuring the /l/ is light-to-mid contact with the alveolar ridge and the /s/ is a crisp hiss.
In US English, ALS as an acronym is /ˈeɪ ɛl ɛs/ with clear syllable separation. UK English often preserves the same initialism with slight vowel reductions in rapid speech, sounding /ˈeɪl ɛs/ or /ˈeɪ ɛlz/ in quick talk. Australian English may reduce the /l/ clipping and could render /eɪ ɛl ɛs/ as /eɪl ɛs/ with a lighter r/s variation depending on speaker. When als is German, the pronunciation /als/ remains stable across English accents but may vary in syllable stress.
The difficulty often comes from whether it’s spoken as an acronym or as a word from another language. When pronounced as letters, you must coordinate three distinct phonemes /eɪ/, /ɛl/, /ɛs/ quickly and evenly. When it’s a foreign conjunction or suffix, you rely on a single syllable with a crisp /l/ and /s/; confusion arises from rapid phrase linking, liaison with neighboring vowels, or regional vowel shifts. Watching mouth position and practicing letter-by-letter speech helps stabilize both forms.
Yes. Always use context to determine whether ALS is an acronym spoken as /ˈeɪ ɛl ɛs/ or a foreign word pronounced /als/. In multilingual contexts, hope to hear surrounding syntax that signals function. For accuracy, practice both forms: slow, deliberate letter pronunciation for initialisms, and a crisp, single-syllable /als/ for language-specific uses. Pay attention to the final /s/—in careful speech, it is a voiceless sibilant; in rapid speech, it may become a lighter or devoiced /s/ depending on the speaker.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "als"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker pronouncing ALS as both an acronym and as a German conjunction; mimic three-phoneme sequences and quick transitions. - Minimal pairs: practice with /eɪ/ vs /e/ or /eɪl/ vs /eɪəl/ to lock in pronunciation boundaries. Example pairs: /eɪ ɛl ɛs/ vs /eɪl ɛs/; /als/ vs /ælz/ (as in 'als' with a different final). - Rhythm practice: time the utterance to fit 0.4–0.6 seconds for a two- or three-phoneme sequence; practice with metronome for even timing. - Stress practice: for acronym, keep initial stress on the first letter; for non-English usage, stress depends on syntactic role. - Recording: record yourself reading phrases. Compare to reference audio; adjust lip and tongue tension. - Context sentences: practice with background noise to simulate real conversation.
No related words found