2 syllables: ap, peals. Stress on peals.
uh-PEELZ
/əˈpilz/
appeals is pronounced uh-PEELZ (/əˈpilz/). It has two syllables (ap-peals), with the stress on "peals". Appeals refers to formal requests for a review of a decision or judgment, or to the attraction or interest something has for people. In legal and organizational contexts, it denotes seeking reconsideration; more broadly, it can describe the power to attract or evoke interest. The term often operates in plural form when multiple requests or attractions are involved, or as a verb in third-person singular form 'appeals'.
Appeals refers to formal requests for a review of a decision or judgment, or to the attraction or interest something has for people. In legal and organizational contexts, it denotes seeking reconsideration; more broadly, it can describe the power to attract or evoke interest. The term often operates in plural form when multiple requests or attractions are involved, or as a verb in third-person singular form 'appeals'.
"The defendant filed new appeals after the verdict."
"Her charity appeals to donors worldwide for support."
"The quirky design elements appeals to a younger audience."
Pronounce as ap-PEELS (US/UK: /əˈpiːlz/ or /əˈpɪlz/ depending on vowel in the unaccented first syllable). The stress sits on the second syllable. The final -als is an /lz/ cluster; ensure the lips come together for /p/ and then glide into a clear /l/ and /z/ sound sequence. Think of starting with a neutral schwa, then strong /i/ or /ɪ/ before /lz/. Audio references: you can compare to words like peels or seals to anchor the final rhymes.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying ap-PEALs or ah-PEALS; (2) Turning the final -als into /əlz/ without voice, yielding /əbɪlz/ or /əpəlz/; (3) Vowel length mismatch in the second syllable, using a lax /ə/ or inconsistent /i/ vs /ɪ/. Correction: keep the second syllable with a tense vowel: /iː/ or /ɪ/ depending on dialect, then end with a crisp /lz/ cluster. Practice the sequence ap- + PEELS, with a strong palate for the /p/ positive onset, then glide into /l/ and voiceless /z/.
In American English, /əˈpiːlz/ has a long tense vowel in the second syllable and a rhotic, subtle r influence in connected speech. In UK English, /əˈpiːlz/ often features a slightly shorter /iː/ and clearer non-rhoticity; Australians may have a shorter, centralized first vowel and a slightly flatter second vowel, with a more fronted /i/ sound. Across all, the final /lz/ cluster remains audible; the main variation is vowel length and quality.
Difficulties arise from the two consecutive syllables with contrasting vowels and the /lz/ coda. The second syllable requires a tense, high-front vowel before a voiced/voiceless lateral-zip sequence. In connected speech, linking with the preceding word can blur the boundary, and the voice onset time for /p/ and the voicing on /z/ may drift. Focusing on a clear /iː/ or /ɪ/ and maintaining a crisp /lz/ helps stabilize pronunciation.
A unique aspect is balancing the unstressed first syllable with a strong second syllable: ə-PEELS. The unstressed schwa reduces before the tense vowel, so you should avoid adding unnecessary consonants after /ə/. Pay attention to the final /lz/ cluster emerging as a single syllable-ending sequence rather than two separate sounds. This precise timing helps the word sit cleanly within legal or persuasive phrases.
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US: rhoticity minor; ensure clear /r/ or lack thereof in surrounding words doesn’t affect the /ɪ/ vs /iː/ vowel quality. UK: typically non-rhotic; maintain /iː/ and crisp /l/ and /z/. AU: tends toward a slightly flatter vowel for /iː/ and a more centralized first syllable; keep the /lz/ distinct while not overemphasizing the /p/ release. Vowel lengths and consonant clarity should be preserved across dialects with minimal vowel reduction in the stressed syllable. IPA references: US /əˈpiːlz/, UK /əˈpiːlz/, AU /əˈpɪlz/.
Appeals comes from the Old French apelier ‘to appeal, call upon,’ from late Latin appellare ‘to name, call upon, address.’ The root ap-, from Latin ad- ‘toward’ plus pellere ‘to drive, push’ yields ‘to cause or call toward.’ In English, appeal as a noun emerged in the 14th century, meaning ‘an earnest request or plea’ and extended to legal contexts in which a decision is brought before a higher authority. The verb form to appeal developed similarly, with senses spanning from ‘to call upon, invoke’ to ‘to appeal to someone’s sympathies or authorities’ and later to ‘to request a new evaluation.’ The plural form appeals appears naturally when multiple requests or appeals of election, law, or fashion’s attractiveness are discussed. Over time, the word broadened beyond strictly legal language, adopting a general sense of attracting or appealing to emotion, taste, or interest. Today, appeals is common in legal, marketing, social campaigns, and media, preserving both senses: formal requests and the power to attract.
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Words that rhyme with "appeals"
-als sounds
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