2 syllables: com, pare. Stress on pare.
kuhm-PER
/kəˈmpɛɹ/
compare is pronounced kuhm-PER (/kəˈmpɛɹ/). It has two syllables (com-pare), with the stress on "pare". Compare means to examine two or more items in order to note similarities, differences, or relative merits. It involves systematic analysis and measurement, often using criteria or benchmarks. In speech, the word is a two-syllable verb with primary stress on the first syllable and a reduced second syllable.
Compare means to examine two or more items in order to note similarities, differences, or relative merits. It involves systematic analysis and measurement, often using criteria or benchmarks. In speech, the word is a two-syllable verb with primary stress on the first syllable and a reduced second syllable.
- Misplacing stress on the first syllable (COM-pare) instead of the second (com-PARE). This leads to a flat, staccato feel and sounds non-native in speed contexts. Correction: practice the second syllable with a clear, sustained vowel that shifts from schwa to a light diphthong, keeping the first syllable light. - Overpronouncing the final vowel as a full /eɪ/ or /eɚ/ in all contexts. Correction: in connected speech, allow a reduced, quicker final vowel, especially before a consonant or at the end of a phrase. - Adding extra lip rounding for the /ɔː/ or /eɪ/ diphthong in some dialects. Correction: align lip rounding with region—US often less rounding than UK; aim for a mid-lip position to avoid excessive rounding.
"- When you compare these two study guides, you’ll see that one covers more examples."
"- It’s not fair to compare apples with oranges."
"- We need to compare prices from several vendors before buying."
The pronunciation is /kəmˈpɛər/ in UK and US dictionaries often show /kəmˈpeər/ or /kəmˈpɑː(ɚ)/ depending on dialect. In broad terms, you’ll stress the second syllable: com-PARE. Start with a light, unstressed /kə/ (schwa + k), then a crisp /m/ + /p/ cluster, followed by a long, tense vowel in the final syllable. In US speech you’ll hear /kəmˈpɛɚ/ or /kəmˈper/ with rhotacized or reduced endings in connected speech. Mouth position: lips neutral, start with rounded lips for the /ɔː/ quality in some accents, but in most varieties, the final vowel is a mid-to-high front vowel before /r/.
Common mistakes include misplacing primary stress on the first syllable (COM-pare) or making the final vowel a full vowel like /æ/ instead of a reduced /ə/ or /eɪ/ quality. Another error is pronouncing /ˈkɒmpɛə/ with British short /ɒ/ or a clipped /p/ before /ɛə/. Correction: maintain stress on the second syllable, use a schwa /ə/ in the first syllable, and ensure the final vowel glides toward /ə/ or /ɚ/ before an /r/ in connected speech.
US: /kəmˈpɛər/ or /kəmˈpɚ/ in rhotic accents, with a rhotacized ending; UK: /kəmˈpeə/ with a longer /eə/ diphthong and less pronounced rhoticity in non-rhotic varieties; AU: /kəˈmpeə/ with a clear two-syllable diphthong on the second syllable and similar stress pattern. In all, the stress remains on the second syllable, but vowel quality and rhoticity shift—US emphasizes /ɛə/ or /ɚ/; UK leans toward /eə/; AU approximates /eə/ with a more fronted vowel. Remember linking in natural speech can blur the final /r/.
Because the word hinges on a precise two-syllable rhythm with stress on the second syllable and a tricky diphthong in the final vowel. The mouth must transition from a reduced schwa /ə/ to a tense, open-mid front vowel /eɪ/ or /eə/ depending on dialect, then possibly add a subtle /ɹ/ in rhotic accents. Non-native speakers often misplace stress or over-articulate the second syllable, making it sound like com-PARE or com-PAIR instead of com-PARE with a smooth, clipped final vowel.
There are no silent letters in compare, but the key is the perceptual second-syllable stress and the subtle vowel shift from /ə/ to /eɪ/ or /eə/ depending on dialect. You’ll want to avoid adding extra consonants or elongating the final syllable beyond a natural, quick glide into the /r/ or its non-rhotic equivalent. The unique search angle is the two-syllable, stress-timed pattern where the second syllable carries the weight, often making learners pause slightly before the /p/ and then smoothly glide to the final vowel.
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- US: Maintain rhoticity, end with a light /ɚ/ or /ɹ/ depending on speaker. Use a middle-to-close mouth opening for the /eɪ/ or /ɛɚ/ vowel; keep the /ə/ in the first syllable. - UK: Emphasize non-rhoticity; the final vowel is more like /ə/ or /ɜː/ depending on dialect; the second syllable vowel leans toward /eə/. Watch the length of /eə/; avoid dragging the syllable. - AU: Similar to UK but with a flatter, more centralized nucleus; the second syllable retains /eə/ with a slightly higher tongue height. Overall, keep final /ɹ/ silent in non-rhotic contexts; when rhotic, the /ɹ/ should appear as a light, almost swallowed consonant.
Compare comes from the Old French comparer, from the Late Latin comparare, meaning to match, pair, or prepare together. The root is the Latin pares, par- ‘equal, even’ with the prefix com- ‘together’. Early English usage around the 14th century captured the sense of bringing two things into a relation of likeness or difference, as in legal or logical contexts. Over time, “compare” broadened to include evaluating similarities and differences across domains such as prices, qualities, and data. The word’s phonology centers on a two-syllable stress pattern (comPARE) with a reduced second syllable that is common in English verbs. Throughout the centuries, the sense expanded from formal, arithmetic-like comparison to everyday evaluative judgments, including metaphorical comparisons and narrative contrasts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "compare" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "compare" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "compare"
-car sounds
-tar sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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