kuhm-PER-uh-suhnz
/kəˈmpɛɹəsənz/
comparisons is pronounced kuhm-PER-uh-suhnz (/kəˈmpɛɹəsənz/). Comparisons is the plural of comparison: the act or instance of evaluating two or more items or people to note similarities or differences. It can function as a noun in phrases like “make comparisons” or as part of a compound noun. In expert use, it often signals analytical reasoning or data-driven assessment across disciplines.
Comparisons is the plural of comparison: the act or instance of evaluating two or more items or people to note similarities or differences. It can function as a noun in phrases like “make comparisons” or as part of a compound noun. In expert use, it often signals analytical reasoning or data-driven assessment across disciplines.
"You’ll need careful comparisons of the results before drawing a conclusion."
"The report includes comparisons of market trends over the last decade."
"Her method relies on rigorous comparisons between experimental groups."
Pronounced /kəmˈpɛrəsənz/ (US) or /kəmˈpeərəsənz/ (UK/AU). Primary stress on the second syllable: com-PAR-sons, with the -sons ending voiced as /z/ in plural. Start with a schwa first syllable, then a stressed /ˈpɛr/ (or /ˈpeə(r)/), followed by a reduced /ə/ and final /zənz/. Listen for the light, quick -sənz ending rather than a hard '-ssions'.
Common errors: misplacing the stress (say com-PAR-sons instead of the correct second-syllable stress), and over-emphasizing the second syllable making it sound like /ˈkɒm.pæ.rɪ.sənz/. Another frequent issue is slurring the -ʊənz/-sənz ending. Correction tips: keep the /ˈpɛr/ fully stressed, reduce the first syllable to a quick schwa, and ensure the final /zənz/ is crisp but not overly elongated.
US tends to a clear /ˈkɒm.pær.ə.sənz/ with rhotics in some dialects spelled, but standard is /kəmˈper.ə.sənz/; UK and AU favor /kəmˈpeə.rə.sənz/ with a more rounded /eə/ diphthong in the second syllable and non-rhotic tendencies in some regions. The final -sənz often becomes /-sənz/ in both, but regional glides vary. The key difference is vowel quality in the stressed second syllable: US may use /ˈpɛr/ vs UK /ˈpeə/ in many speakers.
Two challenges: first, densely packed syllables require accurate timing for the stressed second syllable (com-PAR-sons) and smooth transition to the trailing /ənz/. Second, the -sons/-sənz cluster can create vowel reduction effects in fast speech, risking a muddled final syllable. Practice by isolating the stressed /ˈpær/ or /ˈpeə/ and linking it cleanly to the following /əsənz/ with controlled tempo.
Unlike singular ‘comparison,’ the plural adds an extra syllable and a Z sound; the common trap is slipping into /ˈkɒm.pə.ra.nɪənz/ or misplacing stress on the first syllable. The targeted nuance is keeping the second syllable clearly stressed and ensuring the third and fourth syllables do not reduce too much. Also avoid sounding like ‘com-PAIR-uh-sihns’ by maintaining the /ˈpɛr/ or /ˈpeə/ quality.
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The word comparisons derives from the verb compare, from the Old French comparer (to liken, to estimate the similarity of), from Latin comparare (to pair, to match, to unite, to compare). Compare itself goes back to Latin com- (together) + parare (to prepare, to make ready, to pair). The noun form comparison appeared in English in the 15th century, originally meaning the act of placing side by side to examine resemblance. Over time, it broadened to denote any act of weighing similarities and differences between two or more items. The plural comparisons appears in English from the early modern period as corpora of language show usage in both scientific and literary contexts, particularly in philosophy, logic, and statistics, where comparing data is essential. Modern usage frequently collocates with terms like “sharply,” “rigorous,” “statistical,” and “cross-cultural.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "comparisons" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "comparisons"
-ons sounds
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