2 syllables: col, lect. Stress on lect.
kuh-LEKT
/kəˈlɛkt/
collect is pronounced kuh-LEKT (/kəˈlɛkt/). It has two syllables (col-lect), with the stress on "lect". Collect is a verb meaning to gather or accumulate items or data, or to bring things together for a common purpose. It can also function as a noun in specialized contexts (e.g., a collection). In general usage, it appears in talk about collecting objects, debts, or information, and in phrases like “collect data.” The word is often stressed on the second syllable in many varieties of English, with a light, unstressed final syllable.
Collect is a verb meaning to gather or accumulate items or data, or to bring things together for a common purpose. It can also function as a noun in specialized contexts (e.g., a collection). In general usage, it appears in talk about collecting objects, debts, or information, and in phrases like “collect data.” The word is often stressed on the second syllable in many varieties of English, with a light, unstressed final syllable.
"I need to collect the invoices by Friday."
"She plans to collect stamps from around the world."
"We will collect data from participants for the study."
Say /kəˈlɛkt/. Start with a light, unstressed /kə/ syllable (schwa + k), then stress the second syllable /ˈlɛkt/ with a clear /l/ onset and a short /ɛ/ as in 'bet' followed by a clear /kt/ cluster. Keep the tongue high-mid for /ɪ/ or /ɛ/? No - it’s /ɛ/ in this word. The final /t/ should be released for careful speech. IPA: k-ə-ˈlɛkt. Mouth positions: /k/ back, front vowel in second syllable; finish with a crisp /t/ closure.
Common errors: (1) Placing primary stress on the first syllable as in 'COL-lect' which dulls the natural English rhythm; (2) mispronouncing the final cluster as /kt/ with an audible vowel between k and t (e.g., /kəˈlɛkət/). Correction: keep the second syllable as /ˈlɛkt/ with a clean /l/ onset and a crisp /kt/ closure, no vowel insertion. (3) Reducing the /ə/ in the first syllable too much; aim for a light schwa, not a full vowel. (4) Substituting /l/ with a light /w/ or nasalization in rapid speech—ensure the lateral /l/ remains clear. Practice with careful enunciation, then speed up while preserving the segments.
In US English, you’ll hear kə-ˈlɛkt with strong /ɛ/ and a crisp /t/. UK English tends to be similar, but vowels can be a touch longer and the /t/ more clearly released; some UK speakers may elide the /t/ slightly in rapid speech. Australian English aligns closely with US/UK on the vowel quality, but you might detect a more rounded /ɔ/ in some speakers depending on regiolect, and the /t/ can be glottalized in casual speech. Across all, the main differences are vowel quality and release of /t/ depending on formality and rate.
Three focused challenges: (1) Maintaining the stress on the second syllable in fast speech, (2) Fielding the /kt/ cluster at the end without inserting an extra vowel, which is easy to do in English as /kəˈlɛk/ or /kəˈlɛkt/ ambiguous; and (3) ensuring the /l/ is clear after the initial schwa, so the transition from /ə/ to /l/ doesn’t blur with the preceding consonant. Working on precise tongue position and a quick, crisp release of /t/ helps keep the word intelligible, especially when enunciated in phrases.
A unique nuance is the strong secondary syllable nucleus: the /lɛ/ portion carries the primary vowel quality that influences the rhythm of the word in connected speech. Specifically, the vowel /ɛ/ must be crisp and short, avoiding a prolonged schwa in the second syllable, which is common in sloppy speech. Focus on a clear vowel energy from /l/ into /ɛ/ and then a tight /kt/ closure. This helps the word stay distinct in rapid discourse and in sentences where it appears as part of a larger phrase.
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Collect comes from the Latin colligere, meaning to gather or pick together. Coligere itself is formed from com- (together) and legere (to pick, choose). The Old French term collecte influenced English, appearing in Middle English by the 14th century with the sense of gathering or bringing together, and later extended to include the act of gathering taxes or payments (a collection). In modern English, collect maintains the core sense of bringing things together, whether objects, information, or payments, while also evolving in idiomatic phrases (collect data, collect yourself during a moment, collect debts). The word’s audible stresses and consonant cluster have remained relatively stable, though the second syllable often carries the primary stress, especially in casual speech, and the final “-t” can be lightly released or even a t-silent in some rapid or accented speech patterns. First known use in English appears in medieval contexts, with documented usage in legal and fiscal language as “collecta” and related forms influencing later English semantics. Modern dictionaries consistently list collect as /kəˈlɛkt/ in American English, with similar forms in British and Australian varieties, though local pronunciation may vary slightly in vowel quality and stress placement depending on the speaker and context.
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Words that rhyme with "collect"
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