Appraisals refers to formal assessments of value, quality, or performance, typically conducted by an expert. The term can also denote the act of evaluating or estimating something, often for decision-making or pricing. In practice, it conveys a careful, evaluative judgment rather than a casual opinion.
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- Misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable (AP-pri-sals) instead of the second (ap-PRAY-zals). This weakens the diphthong and the overall rhythm. To fix: practice the three-beat pattern with a clear /əˈpreɪ/ start and hold the main belt on /preɪ/. - Mispronouncing the /eɪ/ as a short /e/ or /aɪ/; this makes the word sound incomplete. Tip: exaggerate the /eɪ/ diphthong slightly when first practicing, then elongate the second vowel subtly. - Final cluster confusion: ending as /-əlz/ vs /-əl/ or /-z/; many speakers drop the /z/ or merge with the preceding vowel. Practice final /-zəlz/ by saying ‘zuh-uls’ with a light voicing on the last consonant.
US: emphasize rhotic speech and relatively strong /ɹ/ in connected speech, but in this word the /ɹ/ is not prominent; UK: slightly sharper vowel distinctions, less rhotic emphasis, with crisp /ˈpreɪ/; AU: broader vowel qualities, more centralized /ə/ in the initial syllable and slightly longer /eɪ/; all share the /ˈpreɪ/ diphthong mid-second syllable. IPA references: US/UK/AU /əˈpreɪ.zəlz/.
"The bank ordered appraisals of the property before approving the loan."
"Her annual appraisals highlighted several areas for professional growth."
"The committee conducted appraisals of each proposal to allocate funds fairly."
"We should obtain multiple appraisals to ensure the price reflects market conditions."
Appraisal comes from the French appraisal, stemming from the verb apprisier, meaning to set a value or price. The root appris- traces to Latin apprisare, from prisum meaning a price, value, or estimate; ultimately connected to the verb prendere in Latin meaning to seize or take. The word entered English in the late 15th to early 16th century in contexts of determining value, particularly in legal and commercial settings. Over time, appraisal broadened beyond monetary value to include judgments of quality, performance, or merit in professional, educational, and appraisal committee contexts. The continued use of -al and -ment suffixes in English reflects its formal, evaluative semantics, often paired with nouns like property, assets, performance, and process. The evolution mirrors shifts from purely financial valuation to comprehensive assessments that guide decisions, policy, and organizational development. The term remains common in finance, real estate, performance reviews, and quality assurance, underscoring its core function: a careful estimate or valuation based on observed criteria and standards.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "appraisals" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "appraisals" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "appraisals"
-wls sounds
-uls sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce it as ə-PRY-zəlz with three syllables: stress on the second syllable PRY. IPA: US/UK/AU: /əˈpreɪ.zəlz/. Start with a schwa, then a loud, clear /ˈpreɪ/ vowel like ‘prays,’ followed by a light schwa and a final z-sound. If you’re listening to a native speaker, listen for the strong middle beat and the clear /ˈpreɪ/ reduction before the ending /zəlz/; use a light, quick second vowel and a final voiced z.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (e.g., /ˈæp.ræs.əlz/), pronouncing the middle vowel as a short /ɪ/ or /æ/, and softening the final cluster into /-əl z/ without the full /z/. To correct: place primary stress on the second syllable /ˈpreɪ/; use a clear /eɪ/ for the ‘pray’ part and end with /əlz/ rather than /əl/ or /z/ alone. Practice saying /əˈpreɪ.zəlz/ slowly, then speed up while keeping the vowel qualities steady.
In US and UK, the second syllable carries strong stress: /əˈpreɪ.zəlz/. US rhotics are typically pronounced with a more pronounced rhotic /ɹ/ in connected speech, but in this word the /r/ is not fully rhoticized due to the following /eɪ/. Australian speakers may exhibit a slightly reduced /ə/ and a broader /æ/ or /eɪ/ in the /preɪ/ portion, with a palatalization tendency. Overall, the core /ˈpreɪ/ is stable; rhythm and vowel quality shift subtly by region.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable rhythm with primary stress on the second syllable and the diphthong /eɪ/ followed by a light /zəlz/ cluster. Learners often misplace stress, reduce /ˈpreɪ/ to a shorter vowel, or merge the /z/ with a following consonant making /əlz/ sound like /əl/. Focus on sustaining the diphthong /eɪ/ clearly, then relaxing into /zəlz/ with a precise voicing of /z/ and the subtle /əl/ vowel for the final syllable.
The final s is voiced as /z/ in appraisals because the preceding sound is voiced (/əl/ ends with a vowel-like nucleus). When a plural ends in /-s/ following a voiceless consonant, it often becomes /s/. Here the preceding vowel and /l/ do not create voiceless context, so the ending becomes /z/. So the word ends with /-zəlz/ sound sequence.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "appraisals"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker saying ‘appraisals’ in context and repeat in real-time, matching intonation. - Minimal pairs: compare with ‘appliances’ (different vowel and consonant clusters) or ‘apprised’ (different past tense) to focus on stress and ending. - Rhythm: mark 3-beat rhythm: weak-strong-weak into final stressed syllable; speak slowly at first, then normal speed, then fast. - Stress: ensure the primary stress remains on the second syllable /ˈpreɪ/; avoid shifting stress to either the first or third syllable. - Recording: record yourself saying the word several times in phrases; analyze the final /zəlz/ cluster for voicing and clarity. - Context practice: utteres like ‘property appraisals’ or ‘market appraisals’ to practice linking and rhythm.
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