5 syllables: col, lab, or, a, tors. Stress on lab.
kuh-LAB-ur-ay-turz
/kəˈlæbɚˌeɪtɚz/
collaborators is pronounced kuh-LAB-ur-ay-turz (/kəˈlæbɚˌeɪtɚz/). It has five syllables (col-lab-or-a-tors), with the stress on "lab". Collaborators refers to people who work jointly on a project or task, typically sharing responsibilities and contributing ideas or effort toward a common goal. The term often implies formal or semi-formal partnership in professional or creative contexts. It emphasizes joint action and interdependent work rather than solitary effort.
Collaborators refers to people who work jointly on a project or task, typically sharing responsibilities and contributing ideas or effort toward a common goal. The term often implies formal or semi-formal partnership in professional or creative contexts. It emphasizes joint action and interdependent work rather than solitary effort.
"The researchers invited several collaborators from different universities to co-author the study."
"Our collaborators helped design the software and tested it for usability."
"During the mural project, collaborators from music, art, and engineering backgrounds contributed ideas."
You say /kəˈlɑː.bəˌreɪ.tərz/ in broad US pronunciation, with primary stress on the second syllable: co-LAB-o-ra-tors. In careful speech, the final -ors is often pronounced as -ərz or -əz, depending on speed. The vowels are schwa in the unstressed positions: kə- LAB-ə-REI-ˌtərz. Pay attention to the /ˈlɑː/ or /ˈlæb/ depending on dialect.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying co-LAB-or-a-tors too aggressively) and mispronouncing the mid vowels, especially the /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ in the second syllable. Correct by practicing the secondary stress pattern: /kə-ˈlɑː-bə-ˌreɪ-tərz/ (US) or /kə-ˈlæb-ə-ˌreɪ-təz/ (UK). Focus on keeping the final /ərz/ sound light and quick, not as a hard 'or' syllable. Practice with slow repetition and then natural speed.
US tends to keep a clear /ˈlaː/ for the stressed syllable and a strong /ɚ/ in the final unstressed -tors in slower speech. UK often uses a shorter /ˈlæ.bə-ˌreɪ.təz/ with a non-rhotic /r/ merging, sometimes slight vowel variance in the first syllable. Australian speakers may reduce vowels more, leaning toward /kə-ˈlæb-ə-ˈreɪ-təz/ with a flatter intonation and less rhoticity, slightly blending /ː/ vowels. Overall, rhoticity and vowel quality differences shape the feel of the word in each accent.
It challenges because it’s multi-syllabic with four vowel-heavy syllables and two unstressed segments that can blur. The second syllable carries primary stress, while the later syllables use reduced vowels (schwa) and a glide into /reɪ/ before the final /tərz/. The consonant cluster /l/ followed by /ɒ/ or /æ/ and /b/ can trip learners who expect simpler open syllables. Focus on clearly articulating each stressed vowel and maintaining steady flow into the final -tors.
A key nuance is the optional final z-like voicing in rapid speech; some speakers pronounce the plural with a voiced /z/ or a more neutral /əz/. Practicing the ending /-tərz/ or /-təz/ can help you sound natural across dialects. Also, the /ˈlɒ/ vs /ˈlæb/ difference in the second syllable can shift perceived formality; keep the primary stress on the second syllable and let the vowels in unstressed syllables reduce to schwa.
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Collaborator comes from the French collaborateur, from collaborer ‘to work together, cooperate,’ which itself derives from Latin com- ‘together’ + laborare ‘to work.’ The English noun collaborator appeared in the 18th century in political and literary contexts, often describing someone who cooperates with others toward a common purpose. The sense broadened across the 19th and 20th centuries to include professionals who work jointly on projects, research teams, or creative enterprises. The plural collaborators emerged naturally with English pluralization patterns, maintaining stress on the third syllable in many contexts (col-LA-bo-ra-tors), though stress patterns may shift slightly in fast speech. The word carries neutral to slightly formal connotations, commonly used in business, academia, and the arts to describe co-workers who contribute to shared outcomes. First known uses appear in French and English collaborative writings of the Enlightenment era, with later robust adoption in scientific and organizational discourse as teamwork terminology expanded globally.
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Help others use "collaborators" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "collaborators" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "collaborators" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "collaborators"
-ors sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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