3 syllables: Ap, par, el. Stress on par.
uh-PAR-uhl
/əˈpæɹəl/
Apparel is pronounced uh-PAR-uhl (/əˈpæɹəl/). It has three syllables (Ap-par-el), with the stress on "par". Apparel is a noun referring to clothing and garments collectively. It denotes items worn to cover the body, especially outerwear and fashion goods, rather than personal adornments. In practical terms, retailers discuss apparel lines, and fashion journalism often describes trends in apparel and accessories. The term emphasizes functional and style items designed for wear.
nounApparel is a noun referring to clothing and garments collectively. It denotes items worn to cover the body, especially outerwear and fashion goods, rather than personal adornments. In practical terms, retailers discuss apparel lines, and fashion journalism often describes trends in apparel and accessories. The term emphasizes functional and style items designed for wear.
How to Pronounce Apparel
"The store specializes in athletic apparel for runners."
"She donated old apparel to the charity drive."
"Designer apparel can be pricey, but it often lasts longer."
Apparel is pronounced with three syllables: ap-uh-LAHR, stress on the second syllable: /ˌæpəˈlɑː/. Start with a short, lax 'a' as in apple, then a quick schwa, then a clear 'la' with an open back vowel, finishing with an 'r' in rhotic accents. In non-rhotic dialects, the final 'r' may be softened or dropped, yielding /ˌæpəˈlɑː/; ensure the vowel quality remains rounded in the final syllable. You can listen to examples on Pronounce or Forvo for US, UK, and AU variants.
Two common mistakes: (1) Misplacing stress on the first or third syllable instead of the second; always stress the second: /ˌæpəˈlɑː/. (2) Slurring the 'l' and 'r' together or using a quick 'er' instead of a clear schwa before 'lɑː'. Practice by isolating the middle syllable with a light schwa: ap-ə-LAHR, then blend. For non-rhotic accents, avoid adding an intrusive post-vocalic 'r'; the final 'r' is not pronounced in most UK contexts.
In US, you’ll hear /ˌæpəˈlɑːr/ with rhotic final /r/. UK often yields /ˌæpəˈlɑː/ with non-rhotic ending, sometimes a shorter final 'r' or silent, and a slightly tighter first syllable. Australian tends toward /ˌæpəˈlɑː/ with non-rhotic tendencies but can retain a softer, rolled or flapped r in rapid speech. The key differences are rhoticity and vowel length; final 'ar' can be reduced or omitted in non-rhotic dialects. IPA references: US /ˌæpəˈlɑːɹ/, UK /ˌæpəˈlɑː/, AU /ˌæpəˈlɑː/.
Two main challenges: (1) Stress pattern on the second syllable can be easy to slip if you’re thinking of it as 'APP-uh-rel'; remember the emphasis is ap-uh-LAHR. (2) The final 'ar' requires careful mouth shaping: a rounded back vowel /ɑː/ plus an /r/ in rhotic accents; in non-rhotic contexts the /r/ is silent, which can feel like a mismatch when listening to and producing American vs British cues. Slow practice with isolating the middle schwa helps.
Apparel features a three-syllable rhythm with a light, unstressed middle syllable and a stressed final: ap-ə-LAHR. The distinctive middle schwa reduces the second vowel quality to a neutral, quick sound, which can be tricky if you default to a longer 'uh' or reduce the final vowel too much. Focus on maintaining a clear /ə/ in the middle while preserving the full /ɑː/ and the final /ɹ/ (where applicable).
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Apparel comes from the Middle English apparel(e), ultimately derived from Old French apparelier, meaning a tailor or one who apparel[s] clothing. The noun denotes equipment or dress and broadened to refer collectively to clothing. The root is Late Latin aptillare, related to equip or fit out, but scholars often tie apparel to the French verb appareiller, meaning to equip or prepare a ship’s gear. The English form appeared by the 14th–15th centuries, originally referring to equipment, gear, or attire for travel and daily living, then narrowing to clothing as fashion and commerce developed. Over centuries, apparel has retained formal, somewhat elevated connotations, often found in retail, fashion writing, and industry discourse. In modern usage, it remains a broad category name, contrasted with accessories or footwear, but is commonly used in marketing to imply curated outfits or collections. First known use in English appears in legal or inventory contexts, but literary and commercial usage solidified in the 19th and 20th centuries as retail language evolved.
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Words that rhyme with "Apparel"
-ral sounds
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