3 syllables: com, pon, ents. Stress on pon.
kuhm-POH-nuhnts
/kəˈmpoʊnənts/
components is pronounced kuhm-POH-nuhnts (/kəˈmpoʊnənts/). It has three syllables (com-pon-ents), with the stress on "pon". Components refers to the individual parts that make up a larger whole, or to the elements of a system or product. It is commonly used in technical, mechanical, and organizational contexts to describe the building blocks or constituent parts. The term emphasizes modularity and the relation of each piece to the entire assembly.
Components refers to the individual parts that make up a larger whole, or to the elements of a system or product. It is commonly used in technical, mechanical, and organizational contexts to describe the building blocks or constituent parts. The term emphasizes modularity and the relation of each piece to the entire assembly.
"The components of the machine failed after the surge."
"We reviewed the electrical components before starting the repair."
"Each component must meet the safety standards for approval."
Pronounce as /kəmˈpoʊ.nənts/ in US; /kəmˈpəʊ.nənts/ in UK; /kəmˈpəː.nənts/ in some AU varieties. The primary stress is on the second syllable: com-PO-nents. Start with a schwa /kə/ or /kəm/ then 'PO' with a long o /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK), followed by a light /nənts/ sequence. A slight linking between syllables helps keep the flow: com-PO-nents. Audio reference: consult Cambridge or Forvo entries for native speaker realizations.
Common errors: 1) Stress misplacement (pro-nun-ci-ating com-PON-ents with wrong stress). 2) Reducing the second syllable to a quick schwa without length on /oʊ/. 3) Dropping the final -ts sound or making it /s/ or /t/. Correction: keep the /poʊ/ or /pəʊ/ clearly formed, ensure the final cluster /nts/ is audible with a short dental release after the /nə/ element. Practice with minimal pairs to feel the difference between stressed and reduced syllables.
US: /kəˈpoʊ.nənts/ with rhotic /r/ influence only in other words; vowel is clear /oʊ/ and final /nts/ is crisp. UK: /kəmˈpəʊ.nənts/ with a shorter first vowel and non-rhoticity typically not affecting /r/ here; diphthong /oʊ/ becomes /əʊ/. AU: often /kəmˈpəː.nənts/ with a longer /əː/ in the first post-stress vowel and similar /nənts/. Keep the central vowel before the stressed syllable consistent, and adjust the second vowel to fit the accent’s typical front/back quality.
Because it blends a stressed strong syllable with a reduced preceding syllable and a final consonant cluster. The primary challenge is maintaining the contrast between the stressed /poʊ/ diphthong and the following /nənts/ cluster while not letting the /t/ become a silent or glottal stop. Also, non-native speakers often misplace the stress or merge vowels, making it sound like ‘com-pon-nents’ instead of ‘com-PO-nents.’
The accurate articulation is /kəˈpoʊ.nənts/ in many dialects, with the /nts/ sequence released as a quick affricate-like end. Focus on preventing a squeaky or swallowed final consonant, ensuring a crisp release.
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- US: Rhotic and tooth-tongue influence is minimal here; keep /r/ off; focus on clear /oʊ/ and /nts/. - UK: Longer /əʊ/ in stressed syllable; keep non-rhoticity but this word's /r/ is unaffected; move from /ə/ to /əʊ/ smoothly. - AU: Often a longer /əː/ in the second syllable; maintain vowel length and final /nts/ pulse. IPA references: US /kəˈpoʊ.nənts/, UK /kəmˈpəʊ.nənts/, AU /kəmˈpəː.nənts/.
The word components comes from late Latin componentem (nominative component), from Latin componere ‘to put together, combine’ (com- ‘together’ + ponere ‘to place’). The English form began appearing in the 15th century in contexts meaning ‘parts that combine to form a whole.’ In Old French, the sense of “putting together” evolved under influence from Latin roots, later narrowing to refer to the individual parts of a system or machine. By the 18th–19th centuries, technical disciplines such as manufacturing, engineering, and chemistry adopted “component” to denote discrete parts of a larger assembly, with “component” paralleling “constituent” and “element.” The plural “components” reinforces distributive parts within a structured whole. First known usage in English follows the general borrowing pattern of technical vocabulary from Latin (componere) through French into English, with the sense gradually specialized to denote separable parts that contribute to system function.
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Words that rhyme with "components"
-nts sounds
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