2 syllables: ap, proves. Stress on proves.
uh-PROOVZ
/əˈpɹuvz/
approves is pronounced uh-PROOVZ (/əˈpɹuvz/). It has two syllables (ap-proves), with the stress on "proves". Approves is the third person singular present tense of approve, meaning to have official consent or acceptance. It can also function as a verb with a subject agreeing to a proposal or plan. In use, it conveys endorsement or sanction given by someone in authority or by a group, often after review or evaluation. The pronunciation remains the same regardless of meaning.
Approves is the third person singular present tense of approve, meaning to have official consent or acceptance. It can also function as a verb with a subject agreeing to a proposal or plan. In use, it conveys endorsement or sanction given by someone in authority or by a group, often after review or evaluation. The pronunciation remains the same regardless of meaning.
Tips: use slow, deliberate pronunciation in isolation; then blend into phrases like 'the committee approves' to reinforce rhythm and voicing.
"The committee approves the new policy after weeks of review."
"She approves the project budget with a nod and a smile."
"The manager approves travel requests from staff."
Pronounced ə-ˈpruːvz (uh-PROOVZ). The main stress is on the second syllable: /pruː/. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a strong /uː/ sound in the second with a final /z/ voiced. Mouth position: relaxed lips, slight rounding for /uː/, tongue high and back, tip of the tongue lightly touches the bottom of the upper teeth area for a clean /r/ when your accent uses rhoticity. IPA: US/UK/AU: /əˈpruːvz/.
Two common errors are misplacing stress or mispronouncing the /ə/ initial syllable as a full /æ/ or /ɒ/. Another frequent mistake is softening the /z/ to /s/ at the end, yielding 'aprooves' or 'aprooz' in quick speech. Correction: keep the first syllable as a light schwa /ə/ and clearly voice the /pruː/ with a tense lip rounding, then finish with a voiced /z/ rather than /s/. Consistent final /z/ helps maintain natural rhythm.
In US and UK accents, the /pruː/ cluster stays intact;Rhotic differences affect the vowel quality of the /r/ in rhotic accents (US) versus non-rhotic (UK) where the /r/ may be less prominent. Australian English tends to be non-rhotic and may exhibit a slightly centralized /ə/ in the first syllable, with a rounded /uː/ in the second. The overall /əˈpruːvz/ pattern holds, but vowel quality and rhoticity subtly shift the 'r' realization and vowel length.
Because you must execute a rapid shift from a relaxed, neutral first syllable to a tense, higher vowel in /pruː/ and then end with a voiced /z/ in a fluent cluster. The /ə/ can be elided in casual speech, creating /ˈpruːvz/ for some speakers, which undermines clarity. Coordinating the /pr/ onset with the strong vowel in the stressed syllable and maintaining voicing for /z/ without voiceless frication requires precise tongue-tip control and lip rounding.
No silent letters in 'approves.' All letters contribute to pronunciation: a, p, p, r, o, v, e, s. The initial 'a' is typically a reduced vowel (schwa) in connected speech, but it is not silent.
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Approve derives from the Old French approving, itself from late Latin appropare, meaning to set towards or to fit. The modern sense—to consider or accept as satisfactory—emerged in English in the 14th–15th centuries, influenced by the Latin root approbare meaning to prove to be right or to approve. The prefix ad- combined with prop-, related to fit or proper, contributed to the sense of bringing something into accord. Early use targeted legal and ecclesiastical contexts, where authorities granted permission or endorsement. Through centuries, approve broadened to everyday usage for agreeing with proposals, budgetary acceptance, and authorization. The verb’s conjugation follows standard English patterns, with -es marking third person singular in the present tense. The term often collocates with governance, policy, and administrative processes, reflecting its role in formal decision-making. Its semantic field includes endorsement, consent, and validation, contrasting with disapproval or denial when the outcome is negative.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "approves" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "approves" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "approves"
-ves sounds
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