2 syllables: com, pares. Stress on pares.
/kəˈmpɛɹz/
compares is pronounced /kəˈmpɛɹz/. It has two syllables (com-pares), with the stress on "pares". Compares is the verb meaning to examine two or more items to note similarities and differences. In most uses it takes the -es form for third-person singular or the base form with -s in different contexts, but the core idea remains analyzing likenesses and contrasts. The word emphasizes comparison rather than judgment, and appears in academic, editorial, and everyday speech.
Say it backCompares is the verb meaning to examine two or more items to note similarities and differences. In most uses it takes the -es form for third-person singular or the base form with -s in different contexts, but the core idea remains analyzing likenesses and contrasts. The word emphasizes comparison rather than judgment, and appears in academic, editorial, and everyday speech.
"She compares the two datasets to identify trends."
"The article compares several theories before proposing a new model."
"When students compare their solutions, they often spot different approaches."
Pronounce it as two syllables: /kəmˈperz/ in US and /kəmˈpeəz/ in UK. The stress sits on the second syllable. The first syllable is a schwa and quick, the second syllable has a clear vowel before the final /z/ sound. Mouth: keep the lips relaxed for /kə/ and close the tongue to the alveolar ridge for /mˈper/ before a voiced /z/.
Common mistakes: pronouncing the second syllable with an abrupt vowel like /ɪ/ instead of the correct /eə/ (UK) or /ɜː/ (US), and fricative misarticulation where the final /z/ is devoiced as /s/. Correction: keep a relaxed /ə/ in the first syllable, heighten the vowel in the second syllable to /ɛə/ (UK) or maintain /ɜː/ (US), and voice the final /z/ clearly to avoid an /s/ ending.
US: /kəmˈpɜrz/ with rhotic r and a dark /ɜːr/ quality in the stressed syllable, final /z/. UK: /kəmˈpeəz/ with non-rhotic r, longer diphthong in the second syllable, and a voiced /z/ or a sometimes clearer /s/ depending on the speaker. AU: /kəmpˈeəz/ similar to UK but with more centralized vowels and a slightly flatter intonation. Overall, rhoticity and vowel quality shift determine the sound of the second syllable.
The difficulty centers on the second syllable: the transition from /ə/ to a front vowel in /pər/ or /peə/ plus a voiced final /z/. The cluster /m/+/p/ requires precise bilabial and bilabial-velar coordination. Getting the /z/ voice consistent after a syllabic peak can be tricky for non-native speakers. Focus on maintaining a clean, voiced sibilant without letting it slip to /s/.
A useful nuance is the almost-breaking quality of the second syllable in fast speech, where the /p/ is firmly released followed by a short vowel before /əz/. You’ll sometimes hear a tiny vowel reduction leading to /kəmˈpeəz/ in rapid speech. Practicing the exact two-syllable rhythm helps avoid flattening the second syllable.
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US: rhotic /r/ affects the second syllable with a more centralized /ɜːr/ quality, final /z/ voiced. UK: non-rhotic; second syllable often /eəz/ or /eə/ with a longer, floated vowel; final /z/ still voiced. AU: similar to UK but with more centralized vowels; slight tendency toward a lighter schwa. Reference IPA: US /kəˈmɜrz/ or /kəmˈpɜːrz/, UK /kəˈpeəz/, AU /kəmpˈeəz/. Practicing with minimal pairs like “pear/peer” and “bear/bare” can clarify vowel shifts.
The verb compares derives from Middle English comparer, from Old French comparer, from Latin comparare, meaning to pair,join, or to obtain an equal. The Latin root com- (“together”) plus parare (“prepare, obtain, make ready”) gave the sense of making things alike or equal in value. Over time, the sense broadened to include measuring similarities and differences between items. In English, the suffix -es marks third-person singular present tense for regular verbs (he compares) and also forms the plural noun equivalents in other uses. Early attestations appear in scholarly and comparative texts from the 14th–16th centuries, with the modern sense stabilizing in the 17th–18th centuries as formal analytic language gained prominence. In contemporary usage, compare often collocates with data, theories, opinions, and features, maintaining a formal or semi-formal tone depending on context.
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Help others use "compares" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "compares" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "compares" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "compares"
-res sounds
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