2 syllables: col, ors. Stress on col.
KUHL-urz
/ˈkʌlɚz/
colors is pronounced KUHL-urz (/ˈkʌlɚz/). It has two syllables (col-ors), with the stress on "col". Colors is a plural noun referring to hues or hues used in design and perception. It also appears as verb form in color- (American spelling) of the verb color, meaning to add color to something. In everyday use, colors commonly collocates with adjectives naming shades and tones, such as vivid colors or cool colors. The word emphasizes visual attributes rather than physical objects, and its pronunciation remains tightly bound to its spelling in most dialects.
Colors is a plural noun referring to hues or hues used in design and perception. It also appears as verb form in color- (American spelling) of the verb color, meaning to add color to something. In everyday use, colors commonly collocates with adjectives naming shades and tones, such as vivid colors or cool colors. The word emphasizes visual attributes rather than physical objects, and its pronunciation remains tightly bound to its spelling in most dialects.
"The colors in the painting range from deep blues to bright reds."
"School projects often require you to choose colors that convey mood."
"The colors of the flag are symbolic and carefully chosen."
Colors is two syllables: /ˈkʌl.ɚz/ in General American. The first syllable rhymes with 'dull' without the 'l' cluster change, and the second syllable centers on a schwa + z. A quick tip: keep the /l/ light and avoid turning the 'r' into a strong American rhotic flourish. Think 'KULL-urz' with a soft, quick ending. For non-American ears, you may hear /ˈkɒləz/ or /ˈkɜːl-/ in some dialects; keep the /l/ and final /z/ crisp. Audio reference: consult a native speaker model or pronunciation tools for the exact accent variant.
Common mistakes include turning /ɾ/ or /r/ into a more syllabic or rolled sound, producing 'colorz' with an added vowel, or softening the final /z/ to /s/. Another frequent error is reducing the first syllable to a stronger /ˈkɒl/ without the schwa-like relief in the second syllable. The corrective approach is to keep the first vowel short but not reduced, maintain a light /l/ release, and finish with a clean /z/ capitalization. Practice with minimal pairs: /ˈkʌl.ɚz/ vs /ˈkɒlərz/ and focus on the schwa in the second syllable.
In US English, colors is typically /ˈkʌl.ɚz/ with a rhotic /ɚ/ in the second syllable. In many UK varieties, you may hear /ˈkʌl.əz/ or /ˈkɒl.əz/ where the second syllable is less rhotacized and the vowel can approach /ɒ/ or /ɜː/. In Australian English, /ˈkɔː.ləz/ or /ˈkɒl.əs/ patterns appear, with vowel quality influenced by non-rhoticity in some speakers and a more open second vowel. The common thread is the two-syllable pattern and a final 'z' resonance; the main differences lie in the first-vowel height and rhoticity.
The difficulty lies in the subtle vowel in the first syllable and the fast transition into an unstressed schwa-like second syllable, followed by a voiced final /z/. The primary challenge is maintaining a crisp /l/ before a rounded, reduced second syllable and ensuring the final /z/ is clearly voiced rather than devoiced to /s/. Additionally, in rapid speech, the vowels can coalesce, making the two syllables blur together. Focus on stable tongue position to avoid a vowel split and keep the /z/ resonance.
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Colors derives from the Old French colore or flour color, from Latin color, meaning ‘color, complexion,’ itself directly linked to the Proto-Indo-European root kel- meaning ‘to seem, to be apparent.’ In Middle English, color spelled colour or color depending on region, aligning with the evolving spelling conventions across English-speaking areas. The core semantic shift centers on perception and attribute assignment through hue. The plural form colors emerged as speakers used color in countable terms—distinct color varieties or types—rather than as a mass noun. Early senses emphasized natural pigments and bodily complexion before expanding to abstract hues used in art, fashion, and design. By the 16th century, the word settled into its modern sense for both the plural of color and the verb sense in American English (to color). The spelling variants reflect broader dialectal differences that persist today. First known written appearances appear in both English and French texts around the late medieval period, with standardized spelling consolidating in Early Modern English. The modern term retains strong ties to visibility, perception, and differentiation by hue across cultures and technologies (print, monitors, dyeing, and fashion).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "colors" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "colors" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "colors"
-ers sounds
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