2 syllables: can, dles. Stress on can.
KAN-duhlz
/ˈkændəlz/
candles is pronounced KAN-duhlz (/ˈkændəlz/). It has two syllables (can-dles), with the stress on "can". Candles are multiple light-emitting items, typically made of wax with an embedded wick. They serve illumination, ambiance, or ritual purposes, and are often used in sets or as decorative pieces. The word emphasizes the plural form of a domestic, everyday object, commonly encountered in homes and events.
Candles are multiple light-emitting items, typically made of wax with an embedded wick. They serve illumination, ambiance, or ritual purposes, and are often used in sets or as decorative pieces. The word emphasizes the plural form of a domestic, everyday object, commonly encountered in homes and events.
"She lit three candles to create a cozy, warm atmosphere."
"The birthday cake was surrounded by candles she blew out after making a wish."
"In the power outage, the candles provided a gentle, flickering light."
Pronounce as /ˈkæn.dəlz/ in US/UK/AU. The stress sits on the first syllable. Begin with /k/ + low-front vowel /æ/ (as in cat), then /n/ plus the schwa-ish /ə/ in the second syllable but here it’s a reduced /ə/ or an /ɪ/ sound depending on speaker, ending with /l/ and a voice /z/. Think: KAN-dəlz, with a soft, quick second syllable. Listen: Pronounce as in candle plus a plural /z/ ending. Audio reference: you can hear the pronunciation on dictionaries like Cambridge or Oxford via their audio buttons.
Common errors: 1) Slurring the /d/ into the /l/ cluster, making /ˈkænɫz/; keep /d/ distinct before /l/. 2) Dropping the final /z/ or turning it into /s/ as in 'candle' without the plural. 3) Reducing the first vowel to a schwa. Correction: maintain the /æ/ in the first syllable, pronounce /d/ clearly before /əl/, then add /z/ at the end: /ˈkæn.dəlz/.
US/UK/AU share /ˈkæn.dəlz/ with early-stage /æ/ vowel. Accent differences include rhoticity—US tends to pronounce /r/ only if spelled; here no /r/. Vowel length and quality: UK tends to crisper /d/ and a shorter /ə/ in unstressed second syllable; AU resembles US but with more lenient vowel reduction in casual speech. Overall, the /ˈkæn/ onset is stable; the /əl/ often reduces toward a schwa in quick speech, and the final /z/ remains voiced in all three. Listen to pronunciation guides in Cambridge/OUP for nuance.
Difficulties arise from the /æ/ vowel in a stressed syllable, the /d/ before /l/ in a consonant cluster, and the final /z/ after an /l/—a tricky transition for some speakers. The diphthong isn’t present, but the light vowel in the second syllable plus a voiced alveolar fricative /z/ challenges timing and mouth movements. Practicing slow, precise articulation of /d/ before /l/ and keeping the /z/ voicing clear helps.
Candles ends with a z-sound that follows /l/ in a consonant cluster; the second syllable uses a reduced vowel around /əl/ rather than a full vowel. The plural suffix /z/ attaches to /l/ with minimal vowel separation in fluent speech, which can tempt some speakers to say /ˈkæn.dəl/ (without the /z/). Maintain the final /z/ for accurate recognition and for natural, native-like intonation.
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The word candles traces to the Old North French cantale (lamp, candle) and Latin candela (wax candle, torch), ultimately from candēre ‘to shine’ and cadere ‘to fall’ in some linguistic paths. In English, candle appears in late Old English as candela or candel, with medieval variants such as candell. The plural form candles emerged to denote multiple units; the “-s” pluralization aligns with general English noun pluralization. The concept of a wax or tallow candle as a light source dates back to ancient civilizations, but the English lexical entry solidified in Middle English periods as households adopted standardized lighting. Over centuries, candles evolved from basic tallow to beeswax and paraffin compositions, with decorative and scented versions appearing in modern times, reflecting shifts in material science and consumer culture. First known uses in English manuscripts appear in religious and domestic contexts, with references to candle flames symbolizing guidance or sanctity. In contemporary usage, candles are ubiquitous—from everyday home lighting to ceremonial uses—keeping the core meaning tied to a wax-embedded wick that yields light.
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Words that rhyme with "candles"
-les sounds
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