2 syllables: col, lins. Stress on col.
KAH-linz
/ˈkɑlɪnz/
collins is pronounced KAH-linz (/ˈkɑlɪnz/). It has two syllables (col-lins), with the stress on "col". Collins is a proper noun, typically referring to a surname or brand name. It is pronounced with two syllables in most varieties of English: COL-lins, where the first syllable carries primary stress. The final -s is pluralized or possessive, and the pronunciation is influenced by regional vowel quality and the presence of a trailing /s/. Overall, it is a straightforward, two-beat word with clear consonant closures and a light, final sibilant.
Collins is a proper noun, typically referring to a surname or brand name. It is pronounced with two syllables in most varieties of English: COL-lins, where the first syllable carries primary stress. The final -s is pluralized or possessive, and the pronunciation is influenced by regional vowel quality and the presence of a trailing /s/. Overall, it is a straightforward, two-beat word with clear consonant closures and a light, final sibilant.
"The Collins family is visiting this weekend."
"She bought a Collins coffee table from the furniture store."
"Collins publishes a popular dictionary that learners study."
Say COL-lins with the primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈkɒlɪnz/ (US/UK/AU share the same pattern). Begin with a voiceless velar plosive /k/, move to a dark, back vowel /ɒ/ or open o sound, then a light /l/ and a short unstressed /ɪ/ in the second syllable, ending with /nz/ or /nz/ depending on adjacent sounds. If the word starts a sentence, keep the /ŋz/ glide subtle; in fast speech, the /ɪ/ may reduce slightly.
Two common errors: (1) Overly lengthening the first vowel, turning COL into a prolonged /ɒː/; keep it short and crisp as /ɒ/ in British English or /ɒ/ in US. (2) Losing the final /z/ or letting it drift into /s/; you should voice the final consonant as /nz/ in most contexts when followed by a vowel sound or in plural usage. Practice by saying COL-linz with a crisp /z/ voice-onset and avoid trailing schwas in the second syllable.
Across US/UK/AU, the rhyme remains /ˈkɒlɪnz/ in broad terms, but rhoticity can color the /ɒ/: Americans may use a more rounded /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ depending on regional dialects, while UK non-rhotic speakers keep a shorter, clipped /ɒ/. Australian English typically has a broader /ɒ/ as well, with slight rounding. Stress stays on the first syllable; the final /nz/ cluster remains voiceless-voiced combination and remains audible in careful speech.
The challenge lies in the final /nz/ cluster, which prompts voicing and nasal assimilation; speakers often devoicing the /z/ or replacing /nz/ with /ns/. Also the short, lax vowel /ɒ/ can vary in quality and may shift toward /ɔ/ in some dialects, changing the perceived vowel length. Ensure you maintain a crisp /ɒ/ and voiced /z/ in the coda to avoid mispronunciation.
No silent letters in collins. All letters contribute to the pronunciation: /k/, /ɒ/, /l/, /ɪ/, /n/, /z/. The only potential ambiguity is whether the final /z/ is realized as a voiced velar /z/ or a devoiced /s/ in rapid speech, but in standard pronunciation it’s /nz/ with full voicing on the /z/.
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US: rhotic, keep /ɒ/ quality, /z/ clearly voiced; you might hear a more open /ɑ/ in some dialects. UK: short /ɒ/ with non-rhotic tendencies; final /nz/ should be clear when enunciated. AU: similar to UK/US with slightly broader vowel in /ɒ/, maintain /nz/ clarity. All: stress on first syllable; keep second syllable light. IPA references: US /ˈkɒlɪnz/; UK /ˈkɒlɪnz/; AU /ˈkɒlɪnz/.
Collins originates as a surname derived from the medieval given name Colin, itself a diminutive of Nicholas or Nicolas, rooted in the Greek name Nikolaos (from Nike ‘victory’ and Laos ‘people’). The surname Collins developed in the British Isles as a patronymic, meaning “son of Collins/Colin,” and became a widespread family name across Ireland, Scotland, England, and later America through Irish immigration. The brand usage—such as Collins English Dictionary and Collins Banks—emerged from founder surnames used as corporate identifiers. Over centuries, Collins shifted from a purely genealogical marker to a recognizable brand and toponyms (e.g., Collins Street) in various English-speaking regions. In modern English, Collins most commonly functions as a proper noun; as a common noun in brand contexts, its pronunciation remains faithful to the surname’s two-syllable pattern, though brand-specific stylizations may affect capitalization and branding. First known usage as a surname appears in medieval records, with early forms like “Filins” or “Colyns” evolving into Collins through phonetic simplification and regional spelling conventions. The word’s endurance in English reflects widespread surname-to-brand transitions and the cultural practice of using family names for commercial naming.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "collins" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "collins" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "collins"
-nes sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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