Angles refers to the plural of angle, a figure formed by two rays sharing a common endpoint. It can also mean directions or viewpoints in a metaphorical sense. In mathematics or geometry, angles are measured in degrees; in everyday speech, it can describe the slope or tilt of something. The term surfaces in various professional fields and discussions about perspective or positioning.
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US: Rely on a crisp separation between /ɡ/ and /l/; avoid 'g-l' coalescence. UK: May sound slightly heavier on /ɡ/ with a slightly longer /æ/; AU: Slightly more fronted /æ/ and a brighter /l/; ensure the /z/ is voiced and audible. IPA references: US/UK /ˈæŋɡəlz/; AUS /ˈæŋɡəlz/.
"The geometric problem asked us to find the acute angles of the triangle."
"From her angles of approach, you can tell she intends to negotiate rather than confront."
"The camera tilted, changing the perceived angles of the building."
"He spoke with sharp, aggressive angles in his posture, signaling confidence."
The word angles comes from Middle English angle, from Old French angle, from Latin angulus, meaning a bend, corner, or angle. The Latin angulus itself stems from a Proto-Indo-European root *h2eng-/*ang- meaning ‘to bend’ or ‘to squeeze.’ Over time, the word broadened in use: in geometry, it retained its literal sense of the space between two rays; in general language, it shifted to imply perspective or direction, as in the angle of approach. The term is attested in English by the 13th century in geometric contexts and gradually expanded into metaphorical senses. The plural angles entered common usage as discussions moved from singular geometric constructs to more complex figures and multi-angled viewpoints. First known use in printed English reflects mathematical treatises and scholastic commentary that use angles to describe both interior vs. exterior configurations and measurement in degrees, a convention that remains central to its meaning today.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "angles" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "angles" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "angles"
-les sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈæŋɡəlz/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a short, concise 'æ' as in 'cat', then an 'ŋ' velar nasal, followed by a hard 'g' and a light 'əlz' ending. Ensure the 'l' is clear but not overly syllabic. Audio reference: you can compare to 'angle' /ˈæŋɡəl/ plus the plural 's' /z/; the plural adds a voiced sibilant at the end, so avoid devoicing the final z.
Two common errors: First, freezing the vowel too long and turning it into 'angel' without the final /z/; second, mispronouncing the 'g' as a soft 'j' or 'h' sound. Correction: keep the 'g' as a hard /ɡ/ after the /ŋ/, and end with the voiced /z/. Practice the sequence /æ ŋ ɡ ə l z/ in slow repetition, then speed up. Also ensure the 'l' isn’t velarized or swallowed by the following consonant.
The core /ˈæŋɡəlz/ structure remains, but vowel length and quality can vary slightly. In US and UK, the first syllable has a short /æ/ and the 'l' may be slightly darker in British accents. Non-rhotic accents generally keep the /z/ final; rhotic speakers may show mild vocalization. Australian English typically features a clearer /æ/ with a slightly more open jaw, but the /ŋ/ and /ɡ/ are stable. The main difference is vowel quality and potential linking with surrounding sounds.
The challenge lies in sequencing three consonant sounds together around the mid vowel: /ŋ/ (velar nasal), /ɡ/ (hard stop), and /l/ (lateral) before the final /z/. Keeping the nasal, stop, and lateral distinct without blending them requires precise timing and tongue placement. Practice by isolating the sequence in slow tempo, ensuring the tongue moves from the soft palate for /ŋ/ to the velar /ɡ/ then to /l/, finishing with a clear /z/.
A unique feature is the abrupt transition from the velar stop /ɡ/ to the alveolar /l/ followed by the voiced /z/. It’s important to avoid merging /ɡ/ and /l/ into a single consonant cluster. This word tests planning of oral gestures: the back-of-mouth position for /ŋ/ must yield smoothly into /ɡ/ without delaying the /ɡ/ release, then quickly to /l/ before finishing with /z/.
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