2 syllables: com, plete. Stress on plete.
kuhm-PLEET
/kəmˈplit/
complete is pronounced kuhm-PLEET (/kəmˈplit/). It has two syllables (com-plete), with the stress on "plete". Complete (adjective or verb) means finished or having all the necessary parts; to bring to an end or to include fully. In many contexts it also functions as an emphatic or totalizing qualifier, indicating that something is thorough or entire. The word combines a closed, final sense with the idea of bringing elements together until nothing is missing. It is versatile in formal and informal registers and often appears in phrases like “complete the task” or “complete agreement.”.
Complete (adjective or verb) means finished or having all the necessary parts; to bring to an end or to include fully. In many contexts it also functions as an emphatic or totalizing qualifier, indicating that something is thorough or entire. The word combines a closed, final sense with the idea of bringing elements together until nothing is missing. It is versatile in formal and informal registers and often appears in phrases like “complete the task” or “complete agreement.”
Tips: slow it down to feel the cluster; then practice with minimal pairs like complete vs. complete? (the question is for awareness). In normal conversation, aim for: kə-ˈmplēt with a distinct /t/.
"• The project is complete and ready for review."
"• She completed the assignment ahead of schedule."
"• His answer was complete, leaving no room for doubt."
Pronounce it as kəm-ˈpliːt in US and UK, with two-syllable structure and primary stress on the second syllable. Start with a reduced first syllable /kə/ (schwa), then glide into /m/ and a long /iː/ in the second syllable, finishing with /t/. In Australian English, the vowel in the second syllable remains long /iː/, with a slightly more flattened diphthong near /iː/ and non-rhoticity. IPA: US /kəˈmpliːt/, UK /kɒmˈpliːt/, AU /kɒmˈpliːt/.
Common errors include reducing the second syllable to a short /ɪ/ or /ɪt/ instead of a prolonged /iː/, and misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable (kum-plete). Some learners insert an extra syllable or bubble the /l/ into a different vowel position. Correct approach: keep secondary sounds clean with /m/ + /pl/ cluster, ensure the long /iː/ in the second syllable, and place the main stress on the second syllable: kə-MPLĪT.
In US and UK, the primary stress is on the second syllable with a long /iː/ vowel: kə-ˈmpliːt. US speakers may reduce the /ə/ to a schwa more aggressively before /mpl/, while UK speakers retain clearer /ə/ before /mpliːt/. Australian English also uses the /ː/ length for /iː/, but the preceding schwa can be more centralized and less reduced; non-rhotic tendencies mean the final /t/ may be lightly released in casual speech. Overall, the main distinction lies in vowel quality rather than stress placement.
Difficulties stem from the consonant cluster /mpl/ immediately after a consonantal onset and the shift from a reduced /kə/ syllable to a strong /mpliːt/ nucleus. The long /iː/ in the second syllable requires precise tongue height (high front) and lip rounding to avoid a shorter /i/ or a diphthong drift. Rapid speech can blur the /m/ and /pl/ sequence, and non-native speakers often misplace stress or merge the two syllables. Practice the sequence kə + mpl + iːt with slow articulation.
There is no silent letter in complete. The final /t/ is typically pronounced clearly in careful speech, though in fast, casual speech some speakers may devoice or slightly reduce it. The core feature is the two-syllable structure with primary stress on the second syllable and a long /iː/ in the nucleus of the second syllable. Being mindful of the /m/ and /pl/ cluster helps maintain clarity and prevents the /iː/ from becoming too short.
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Complete derives from the Latin complētus, the past participle of complērō meaning “to fill up.” This is formed from com- “together” and plēre “to fill.” The sense evolved from “filled up” to “fully finished,” and then extended to describe something that is entire or complete in degree. In Middle English, it appeared as “completen,” carrying the notion of making whole or fulfilling requirements. The word adopted into Old French as completa and Latin plena, influencing legal and scholastic language through the Renaissance, where “complete” described fully carried arguments, sets, or lists. In modern use, complete functions as both a verb (to finish) and an adjective (total, entire), with idiomatic phrases like “complete with” and “complete set.” First known uses appear in English texts of the 14th century in the sense of “to fill up or make whole,” with the broadened sense of thoroughness evident by the 15th–16th centuries, aligning with the Latin root plena and its semantic family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "complete" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "complete"
-ped sounds
-ept sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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