kuh-LAP-siz
/kəˈlæpsɪz/
collapses is pronounced kuh-LAP-siz (/kəˈlæpsɪz/). Collapses is the third-person singular present tense of collapse, or the plural noun form in contexts like “buildings with multiple collapses.” It denotes sudden failure or breaking down, often under stress or strain. In usage, it can describe structural failure, emotional breakdown, or data/security failures, depending on context.
Collapses is the third-person singular present tense of collapse, or the plural noun form in contexts like “buildings with multiple collapses.” It denotes sudden failure or breaking down, often under stress or strain. In usage, it can describe structural failure, emotional breakdown, or data/security failures, depending on context.
- You might swallow the /æ/ in /ˈlæp/ or reduce it toward a schwa; focus on pulling the /æ/ up. - The /lp/ cluster can blur; ensure a brief /p/ release before the /s/. - Final /ɪz/ can drift toward /z/ or /ɪ/; practice crisp /ɪz/ with a light, voiceless sibilant preceding a voiced z. - In rapid speech, the whole word can run together; practice pausing mildly after the stressed syllable to retain clarity.
"The bridge collapses under heavy rain and wind."
"During the simulation, two of the cages collapse."
"The company collapses when the market crashes."
In both US and UK, collapses is pronounced with three syllables: /kəˈlæp.sɪz/. The primary stress sits on the second syllable 'LAPS'. The first syllable is a schwa, and the final -es sounds as /ɪz/ in fluid speech. In careful speech you might hear /-sɪz/; in rapid speech it often sounds like /-sɪz/ with a light or almost elided vowel. Mouth position: start with a relaxed central vowel, raise the tongue for /æ/ in 'lap', then a light /s/ before /ɪz/.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress—people say /kəˈlæp.sɪz/ with incorrect initial strength; place primary stress clearly on /læp/. (2) Slurring /p.s/ into /ps/ or treating /l/ as a dark /ɫ/ in all positions; keep a light alveolar stop between /p/ and /s/. (3) Pronouncing final /ɪz/ as /z/ or /ɪz/ too tense; default to a relaxed /ɪz/ with a brief vowel. Corrections: emphasize the second syllable with a sharp /æ/ vowel, insert a clean /p/ stop before the /s/, and finish with a light /ɪz/ rather than /əz/.
US: /kəˈlæp.sɪz/ with rhotic initial schwa; UK: /kəˈlӕp.sɪz/ or /kəˈlæp.sɪz/ with more clipped /p/ and non-rhotic linking depending on speaker; AU: /kəˈlæpsɪz/ similar to US but with slight vowel height and a more centralized /ɐ/ in some speakers. The main difference is vowel quality in /æ/ and the treatment of the final /ɪz/; US tends toward /æ/ and clear /z/ voice, UK may show slight vowel length differences and non-rhotic tendencies in careful speech, while AU often merges some vowel qualities and uses a broader /ɪ/.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /lp/ followed by /s/ in a single syllable transition and the final /ɪz/ suffix. The /l/ and /p/ are adjacent without an intervening vowel, which can blur into a single sound if spoken quickly. The final /z/ can vocalize as /z/ or /s/ depending on surrounding sounds; this variation makes consistent articulation challenging. A precise articulation requires a brief stop between /l/ and /p/ and a crisp /ɪz/ ending.
A useful tip: isolate the second syllable and practice /læp/ with a strong, short vowel, then attach /sɪz/ with a light, breathy /s/ before a crisp /ɪz/. Practicing with a slow progression and mimicking phrase-level rhythm helps your mouth land the /p/ and /s/ clearly before the /ɪz/. Also try saying ‘two collapses’ slowly to feel the /ˈlæp/ anchor before the trailing /sɪz/.
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- US: emphasize rhotic schwa in first syllable; keep /æ/ bright and short. - UK: maintain short /æ/ with crisp /p/ release and lightly aspirated /s/; less rhotic influence in some regions. - AU: voweled /æ/ closer to /aː/ in some speakers; keep /l/ light and avoid darkening the vowel. All accents require a clear /p/ release before /s/. IPA references: /kəˈlæp.sɪz/ with prominent second syllable /ˈlæp/; note /ɪz/ ending.
Collapses derives from the verb collapse, which comes from the Latin collabi, meaning to fall together or to slip down. The prefix com- (or co-) implies ‘together’ and labi means to glide or slip. In Middle English, collapse appeared as a noun or verb in the 17th century, initially describing physical falling or sinking. By the 19th and 20th centuries, general usage broadened to include metaphorical failures (systems, organizations, economies) as well as physical structures. The -es plural form aligns with English third-person singular present tense (collapses) and plural noun usage (“the collapses”). First known uses appear in scientific and military contexts, later entering common parlance with industrialization and urbanization, where infrastructure and organizations could “collapse” under stress, leading to the current, broadly transferable sense across physical and abstract domains.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "collapses" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "collapses" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "collapses"
-pes sounds
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