2 syllables: col, lars. Stress on col.
KAH-lurz
/ˈkɑlɚz/
collars is pronounced KAH-lurz (/ˈkɑlɚz/). It has two syllables (col-lars), with the stress on "col". Collars is the plural form of collar, referring to garments’ neckbands or to devices that fasten around the neck. In everyday use it can mean both clothing accessories and the looped closures around animals’ necks or security devices that restrain. The word emphasizes the initial /k/ sound, the /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ vowel depending on accent, and the final /z/ plural suffix.
Collars is the plural form of collar, referring to garments’ neckbands or to devices that fasten around the neck. In everyday use it can mean both clothing accessories and the looped closures around animals’ necks or security devices that restrain. The word emphasizes the initial /k/ sound, the /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ vowel depending on accent, and the final /z/ plural suffix.
- You might over-articulate the /ɒ/ making it sound like /ɒː/ (as in 'lot' vs 'lottery'). Keep it short and brisk; aim for a quick, crisp /ɒ/ before the schwa. - The middle /l/ can blend with the schwa; avoid a darkened or “colored” /l/ that pulls into the second syllable. Aim for a lighter contact and a clean release into /ə/. - Final /z/ can be devoiced in rapid speech; practice ensuring the vocal cords vibrate for /z/ even when loud or fast. Use minimal pairs like 'collars' vs 'collars' (stressed vs unstressed) to feel the difference in voicing. - In rapid conversations, the second syllable can be reduced; keep a short /ə/ rather than dragging into /ər/ unless you’re pronouncing slowly for clarity.
"She adjusted the collars of her shirt before the meeting."
"The police placed white collars on the suspect's dog."
"The lab coats had reinforced collars for added warmth."
Say it as two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈkɒl.ərz/ in US and UK usage. The first vowel is a short open o as in 'cot', the second is a schwa or a reduced 'er' depending on speaker, and end with a voiced z. Mouth position: start with a rounded /k/ release, jaw drops slightly for /ɒ/, tongue settles to a relaxed /ə/ for the second syllable, and teeth lightly bite for /z/. For Australian speakers, expect a similar pattern but with slight vowel sharpening or a more centralized /ə/.”
Common errors include softening the /l/ into a vowel, turning /ɒ/ into /ɔː/ or /æ/, and pronouncing the final /z/ as /s/. To correct: keep a clear, light /l/ touch after /kɒ/ and before the schwa, maintain a short /ɒ/ rather than a long vowel, and finish with a voiced /z/ by gently vibrating the vocal cords. Practice with minimal pairs like 'collars' vs 'callers' to feel the difference. Ensure your tongue doesn’t drift into a trailing vowel at the end.”
In US English, the first syllable has a clearer /ɒ/ with the second syllable reduced to /ər/ before /z/, yielding /ˈkɒl.ərz/. UK/AU often show a shorter, more clipped /ɒ/ and a less pronounced rhoticity, producing /ˈkɒl.əz/ or /ˈkɒləz/. The /r/ is typically non-rhotic in UK and AU, so the second syllable sounds like /ə/ or /əz/ without a pronounced /r/. Rhythmic patterns also shift: US tends to a fuller second syllable, UK/AU lean toward a lighter, schwa-like ending. IPA notes reflect general tendencies; regional speakers may vary.”
Difficulties arise from the cluster around /l/ and the transition from the rounded /k/ to a short open vowel, plus ensuring the final /z/ is voiced rather than hissed as /s/. The fusion of /l/ with a schwa can create a subtle vowel blend that listeners perceive as a longer or altered second syllable. Mastery requires precise tongue-placement: a light, central tongue for /ɒ/ and a relaxed posture to allow the schwa. Paying attention to voicing for /z/ helps prevent common devoicing errors when connecting speech.”
No silent letter in standard pronunciation. Unlike some English words with silent letters, collars uses all letters aloud in typical speech: /k/ release, /ɒ/ or /ɒː/ for the vowel, /l/ in the middle, /ər/ or /ə/ depending on accent, and a voiced /z/ at the end. The trick is making the middle syllable legato—especially in connected speech—so that it doesn’t swallow the second syllable in fast talk. If you hear a near-silent second syllable, you’re likely compressing /ə/ too much.
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- US: Clear /ɒ/ with a shorter, crisp /ə/ in the second syllable; final /z/ is voiced and audible. - UK: Possibly a more clipped /ɒ/ and a less rhotic /ə/; final /z/ remains voiced but can blend with following sounds if rapid. - AU: Similar to UK with mild rhotics; ensure the second syllable doesn’t fantasize into /ɜː/ unless your accent requires it. Use IPA references to monitor differences and mimic native speakers in audio resources when possible.
Collar derives from the Old French coler, from col, meaning neck, itself from Latin collum. The term entered English in the medieval period, originally referring to the neck or a protective or decorative band worn around the neck. By the 14th century, collar began to signify the band around garments as a fashion element, and by the late 16th to 17th centuries, the meaning expanded to include the neck closures or devices that encircle the neck (e.g., collars on shirts, military collars). The plural form collars follows standard English pluralization by adding -s, often used when multiple collars are described or when discussing devices used on multiple subjects (e.g., dogs, animals, or mannequins). The word also migrated into metaphorical uses, such as “to collar” someone (to capture or seize) and idiomatic formations, although these senses became more specialized over time. In modern usage, collars retains dual meaning across clothing and equipment contexts, with collared shirts, collars on pets, and security collars all common. First known written uses appear in English texts from the 14th–15th centuries in reference to clothing collars and neckbands, with later expansions into animal collars and hardware contexts in the 18th–19th centuries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "collars" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "collars" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "collars"
-ars sounds
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