3 syllables: com, mer, cials. Stress on mer.
kuh-MUR-shuhlz
/kəˈmɝʃəlz/
commercials is pronounced kuh-MUR-shuhlz (/kəˈmɝʃəlz/). It has three syllables (com-mer-cials), with the stress on "mer". Commercials are short paid announcements or ads designed to promote products, services, or brands, typically aired on radio or television. They are concise, attention-grabbing messages that aim to persuade audiences to take action. The term can also refer more broadly to advertising content produced for broadcast or streaming platforms.
Commercials are short paid announcements or ads designed to promote products, services, or brands, typically aired on radio or television. They are concise, attention-grabbing messages that aim to persuade audiences to take action. The term can also refer more broadly to advertising content produced for broadcast or streaming platforms.
"The new commercials aired during the game last night."
"She watched a few commercials while streaming the show."
"The commercials used catchy jingles to stick in viewers’ minds."
Pronounce as /kəˈmɜrʃəlz/ in US/UK/AU; you can think of it as two stressed syllables: the primary stress on the second syllable: mə-R-CH-əlz. Start with a schwa /ə/ in the first syllable, then /ˈmɜr/ with an r-colored vowel, followed by /ʃ/ in the third syllable, a soft /ə/ vowel before the final /lz/. Keep the /z/ voiced. Audio references: use Pronounce or Forvo entries for /kəˈmɜrʃəlz/ to hear rhoticity in context.
Common errors include exaggerating the first syllable vowel becoming /ɪ/ or /ɛ/, and misplacing stress by stressing the first syllable: say /ˈkɒm-ər-ʃəlz/ or /kəˈmɜːr-ʃəlz/. Another mistake is running the /r/ too strongly in non-rhotic accents. Correct by using a relaxed schwa in the first syllable, ensure the /ˈmɜr/ carries the main beat, and taper quickly into /ʃəlz/ without inserting extra vowels: /kəˈmɜr.ʃəlz/.
US/UK/AU all use rhotic /r/ and /ɜr/ in the second syllable, but vowel quality can vary slightly: US often has /ˈmɜr/ with a clear rhotic sound, UK may be slightly shorter /ˈmɜː/ and AU tends toward a rounded /ɜː/ with subtle vowel length differences. The /ə/ in the first syllable remains a mid-central vowel; final /z/ is voiced in all. Practice linking: kə-ˈmɜr.ʃəlz with a smooth onset to /ˈmɜr/ across regions.
Two main challenges: the multi-syllabic rhythm with primary stress on the second syllable and the adjacent /ɜr/ plus /ʃ/ sequence. The cluster /rʃ/ can cause blending mistakes, making it sound like /mər/ or /mɜːrʃ/ with tentative /l/ insertion. Focus on a clean /ˈmɜr/ before the /ʃəl/ portion, keep the /ə/ in the second-to-last syllable brief, and avoid over-articulating the /z/.
The tricky part is transitioning from /r/ to /ʃ/ quickly. Practice the sequence /mɜr.ʃ/ with a light, almost syllabic /r/ to avoid over-emphasizing. Then glide into /əlz/ without inserting vowels. A practical tip is to say ‘com-mer-shals’ with middle syllable stress while letting the /ɜr/ blend into /ʃ/ smoothly: /kəˈmɜr.ʃəlz/.
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The word commercial derives from the Latin commercium meaning trade or exchange, via the Old French commercie and Late Latin commercialis, with the sense of trade or business. In English, commercial has long described activities related to trade and, by extension, goods marketed for sale. The suffix -al marks the noun-to-adjective/culminating form, and the pluralized noun commercials emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries as broadcast advertising expanded. Early print ads used the term, but with the rise of radio and television, “commercial” narrowed to short adverts aired during programming. The plural form “commercials” developed as multiple ad spots became common, especially in the U.S. broadcasting industry, where networks and stations package several commercials into breaks. First known uses appear in marketing and broadcasting literature from the early 20th century, with “commercial” attested in English well before the broadcasting era, evolving through commercial speech regulations and industry jargon into a general term for ad spots. Over time, “commercials” has become a standard colloquial referent to TV/radio advertising content, distinct from broader marketing content like endorsements or sponsored content.
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Words that rhyme with "commercials"
-tic sounds
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