2 syllables: at, tach. Stress on tach.
uh-TACH
/əˈtætʃ/
attach is pronounced uh-TACH (/əˈtætʃ/). It has two syllables (at-tach), with the stress on "tach". Attach means to fasten or join something to something else, or to affiliate or connect oneself with a person, group, or idea. It can also function as a verb indicating the act of appending or adding, or as an adjective in specialized contexts (e.g., attached file). In everyday use, it often implies securing a bond, responsibility, or association. The pronunciation emphasizes the first syllable with a minor stress, followed by a short trailing vowel in typical usage.
Attach means to fasten or join something to something else, or to affiliate or connect oneself with a person, group, or idea. It can also function as a verb indicating the act of appending or adding, or as an adjective in specialized contexts (e.g., attached file). In everyday use, it often implies securing a bond, responsibility, or association. The pronunciation emphasizes the first syllable with a minor stress, followed by a short trailing vowel in typical usage.
- You often mispronounce the word by softening the /t/ before /tʃ/, producing something like /əˈtæʃ/. Fix: make a crisp contact of /t/ then a quick tongue blade move into /tʃ/ to ensure the /t/ is audible before the /tʃ/. - You might flatten the vowel in the stressed syllable, giving /əˈtætʃ/ with a weak /æ/. Focus on a bright, short /æ/ with a precise, quick /t/ release. - Rush through the final /tʃ/ and blur it into a generic /ʃ/. Practice by isolating the /t/ and the /tʃ/ and then blending with a brief voiceless air release for /t/ and the /tʃ/ blend.
"- Please attach the label to the package before mailing it."
"- She decided to attach herself to the project team for more influence."
"- The document has an attached file with details you’ll need."
Pronounce as uh-TATCH, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU /əˈtætʃ/. Start with a relaxed mid-central vowel for the first syllable, then a crisp /t/ followed by /æ/ in most American and British varieties, culminating in the /tʃ/ sound (as in chair). Mouth positions: lips neutral, tongue tip to alveolar ridge for /t/ and /æ/, and blade-shooting to create /tʃ/. Keep the /t/ short and the /æ/ clear before the final /tʃ/.
Two common mistakes: (1) Turning the final /tʃ/ into /ʃ/ or /t/ (i.e., /əˈætʃ/ or /əˈtæs/). Correct by enforcing the /t/ + /ʃ/ blend: say /t/ quickly, then lift into /ʃ/ with the tongue blade. (2) Misplacing stress as a-TACH rather than ə-TATCH; keep primary stress on the second syllable: /əˈtætʃ/. Practice with a slight pause before the vowel in the second syllable to reinforce the stress.
In US/UK/AU, the core is /əˈtætʃ/. Rhoticity doesn’t alter vowel quality here; the difference lies in vowel length and the exact vowel quality of /æ/. Some US speakers may reduce to /əˈtæʃ/ in rapid speech, dropping the /t/ release slightly. UK speakers often maintain a crisper, more clipped /t/ and can emphasize /æ/ a touch more. Australian speech tends to be similar to US, with slightly rounded /ə/ in some speakers and a lighter /t/ release before /tʃ/. Overall, the /æ/ vowel and final /tʃ/ remain prominent across dialects.
The difficulty comes from the consonant cluster /t/ + /tʃ/ at the end and the short, lax /æ/ in the stressed syllable. Beginners often mispronounce as /əˈæʃ/ or elongate the vowel. The rapid transition from /t/ to /tʃ/ requires precise tongue contact: the tongue tip taps the alveolar ridge for /t/, then the blade arches to form /tʃ/. Practice minimizes the gap between /t/ and /tʃ/ and stabilizes the vowel.
'Is the second syllable of attach emphasized or unstressed in typical speech?' Answer: The second syllable is stressed: ə-TATCH, with primary stress on the second syllable across most dialects, ensuring the /tætʃ/ cluster is clear and the vowel is distinct.
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- US: stress the second syllable, /əˈtætʃ/. Show a slightly stronger /æ/ with clear /t/ release; keep rhoticity neutral. - UK: maintain a crisper /t/ and a more clipped /æ/; ensure non-rhoticity doesn’t alter the final /tʃ/. - AU: standard US-like rhoticity is common; keep the /ə/ as a schwa in careful speech, with a short, quick /t/ and /tʃ/ combo. In all accents, the final /tʃ/ must stay intact for intelligibility. Focus on the /æ/ quality, avoid elongation, and keep the tongue blade ready for /tʃ/.
Attach comes from the Old French attachier (to fasten, to adhere), from late Latin attachare (to fasten to), from ad- 'to' + tegere 'to cover, to cover with' or tangere 'to touch' in some related senses. The word entered English in the 14th–15th centuries with legal and binding connotations, evolving to include figurative senses like attaching importance to something or attaching files. Over time, pronunciation stabilized into /əˈtætʃ/ or /əˈtæ(t)ʃ/ in many dialects, with the initial schwa or short a and a crisp final “tch” /tʃ/ cluster. The evolution reflects a shift from literal fastening to broader notions of linking or appending information, roles that persist in modern usage across tech, law, and daily language.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "attach" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "attach" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "attach"
-tch sounds
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