4 syllables: au, to, mo, biles. Stress on au.
AW-tuh-moh-beelz
/ˈɔtəmoʊˌbilz/
automobiles is pronounced AW-tuh-moh-beelz (/ˈɔtəmoʊˌbilz/). It has four syllables (au-to-mo-biles), with the stress on "au". Automobiles refers to self-propelled vehicles designed for passenger transport, typically powered by internal combustion engines or electric drivetrains. The term encompasses a wide range of cars, trucks, vans, and similar conveyances used for personal or commercial travel. In everyday language, it denotes the collective concept of motorized passenger transportation rather than a specific make or model.
Automobiles refers to self-propelled vehicles designed for passenger transport, typically powered by internal combustion engines or electric drivetrains. The term encompasses a wide range of cars, trucks, vans, and similar conveyances used for personal or commercial travel. In everyday language, it denotes the collective concept of motorized passenger transportation rather than a specific make or model.
"The city is investing in charging stations to support a growing fleet of automobiles."
"Automobiles have transformed how people commute, shop, and socialize across long distances."
"He collects vintage automobiles and attends classic car shows every summer."
Pronounce as /ˌɔː.təˈmoʊ.bɪlz/ in US English or /ˌɔː.təˈməʊ.biːlz/ in UK English. The stress falls on the third syllable: au-TO-me-bles, with secondary stress on the first syllable in many dialects. Start with the 'aw' as in 'thought,' then a quick 'tuh' or 'tuh-m' before the primary stress on 'mo' and a light final 'bulz' sound. Mouth position: rounded lips for the 'ɔː' vowel, neutral to slightly tensed jaw for 'tə,' high tongue for 'moʊ' (US) or 'məʊ' (UK). Final 'bils' has a light /b/ followed by /ɪ/ (short i) or a schwa in rapid speech, and ends with /lz/.
Common errors include misplacing stress (treating it as a flat three-syllable word) and conflating /moʊ/ with /məʊ/ or omitting the final /lz/ cluster. Some speakers mispronounce it as 'auto-mobiles’ with equal emphasis or mispronounce the middle vowel as a full /ɒ/ in UK speech. Correction: keep primary stress on the third syllable 'mo' of 'mo-bile' and ensure the final /lz/ is a voiced consonant cluster; avoid devoicing the final /z/ or dropping the /l/ before the /z/.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˌɔː.təˈmoʊ.bɪlz/ with a clear /oʊ/ in the second syllable and a pronounced final /lz/. UK English tends to have /ˌɔː.təˈməʊ.biːlz/ with a longer /əʊ/ and a slightly lighter /l/ before the /z/. Australian English typically mirrors US rhotics but with a slightly flatter vowels, so /ˌɔː.təˈmɒː.biːlz/ or /ˌɔː.təˈmɒː.biːlz/ depending on speaker; expect non-rhoticity to be variable, sometimes pronounced with a reduced /ə/ in unstressed syllables. Focus on the vowel in the second syllable and the final /lz/ cluster, which remains audible across accents.
The difficulty comes from the three-syllable rhythm with a non-initial stress on the second half and a final consonant cluster /lz/. The diphthong in the second-to-last syllable /moʊ/ or /məʊ/ requires precise tongue height and lip rounding. Quick speech can reduce vowels or blur the /l/ into a syllabic sound, so speakers often truncate to /ˌɔː.təˈmoː.bɪlz/ or drop the /l/ before /z/. Practice by isolating the three stressed segments and the final /lz/ to maintain clarity.
There is no silent letter in the standard pronunciation. All letters contribute to sound: the first syllable /ˌɔː/ includes the vowel sound, the /t/ is pronounced, and the sequence /ə/ (or /ə/) /moʊ/ or /məʊ/ expresses the core syllables, followed by /bɪlz/ (or /bɪlz/). Some rapid speech variants may elide a schwa in the first syllable, but the final /l/ and /z/ typically remain audible. Ensure you articulate each consonant and maintain the final /lz/ cluster.
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Automobiles is a hybrid coinage formed in the late 19th century through a blend of the French word automobile, from the Greek prefix auto- meaning 'self' and the Latin mobilis meaning 'movable', with the English suffix -eable evolving in later coinages to denote capability. The root term automobile itself entered English in the 1890s as a functional label for self-propelled vehicles, contrasting with horse-drawn conveyances. The pluralized form automobiles likely emerged as the word began to refer to a broad class of vehicles rather than a single machine, with usage expanding alongside mass production of cars in the early 20th century. Early English texts distinguish automobiles from steam-powered carriages and bicycles, and over time the term gained traction, especially in industrialized nations, to describe privately owned passenger cars and fleets alike. By mid-20th century, automobiles had become synonymous with the automobile industry and consumer motor transport, sustaining usage into modern times even as electric and hybrid variants evolved.
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Words that rhyme with "automobiles"
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