2 syllables: con, fers. Stress on fers.
kuhn-FURZ
/kəˈnfɝz/
confers is pronounced kuhn-FURZ (/kəˈnfɝz/). It has two syllables (con-fers), with the stress on "fers". Confers is the third-person singular present tense of confer: to grant or bestow (a title, benefit, or distinction) or to have a discussion or exchange of ideas. In usage, it often means bestowing an advantage or discussing implicitly, as in a ceremony or formal decision-making context. The word emphasizes giving or imparting something, or the act of engaging in consultation.
Confers is the third-person singular present tense of confer: to grant or bestow (a title, benefit, or distinction) or to have a discussion or exchange of ideas. In usage, it often means bestowing an advantage or discussing implicitly, as in a ceremony or formal decision-making context. The word emphasizes giving or imparting something, or the act of engaging in consultation.
- Understating the second syllable: you might say con-FERS with a weak /ɜ/ or a reduced /ə/ in the second syllable. Solution: open the second syllable with a clear /ɜː/ or /ɜr/ depending on accent, and end with a clean /z/ depending on voicing. - Final sound confusion: confuse /z/ with /s/ or drop the final z sound in casual speech. Practice the final /z/ in connected speech to maintain voicing. - Vowel length: the /ɜː/ might become a shorter /ɜ/ or a lax /ə/. Use slow practice to hold the vowel to the recommended length and then blend. - Final blending: avoid a hard stop after /r/; let the /z/ softly connect to the following word. - Focus on the r-color: in rhotic accents, keep a rounded, voiced rhotic vowel before /z/; in non-rhotic accents, ensure the /r/ is not pronounced; use a gliding transition from /ɜː/ to /z/.
"The committee confers awards to researchers who meet the criteria."
"When the judge confers with colleagues, she seeks additional opinions before ruling."
"The company confers with regulators to ensure compliance."
Say con-FERS with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US kənˈfɜrz, UK kənˈfɜːz, AU kənˈfɜːz. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a strong /ɜː/ or /ɜ/ depending on accent, and finish with /rz/ for US or /z/ for non-rhotic variants. Keep the r-colored vowel smooth and the /f/ as a labiodental fricative. Aim for a clear linkage between /n/ and /f/ and a crisp final /z/ or /rz/.
Common errors include pronouncing it as con-FERNS with the stress on the first syllable, or flattening the vowel to a short /ɪ/ or /ɛ/. Another mistake is turning /fɜː/ into /fɛər/ or dropping the /r/ in non-rhotic accents. Correction: maintain secondary syllable stress, use a strong /ɜː/ (US /ɜr/ as /ɜr/), keep the /f/ clean and short, then release into a clear /rz/ or /z/. Practice with minimal pairs like con- vs. conf- to anchor the right vowel height and final consonant voicing.
In US English, you hear /kənˈfɜrz/ with rhotic r and a rounded /ɜr/ in the second syllable, ending in /z/. In UK English, many speakers are non-rhotic; it may be /kənˈfɜːz/ with a lengthened vowel and no post-vocalic r; the final sound tends to be a voiced /z/ or often a voiceless /z/ depending on voicing. Australian English typically follows non-rhotic patterns with a clear /ə/ in the first syllable and a lengthened /ɜː/ before the final /z/. The core is secondary stress on the second syllable and a rounded vowel quality that approximates /ɜː/.
Difficulties come from the stressed second syllable and the rhotic or non-rhotic quality depending on accent, plus the /f/ transitioning into /ɜr/ and then a voiced /z/ or /z/ sound. The consonant cluster /fɜr/ invites a smooth transition; beginners often insert a clear /ɪ/ or reduce /ɜ/ to /ə/. Focus on the shush-like release after /f/ and avoid a clipped /r/ in rhotic accents. Use IPA as a guide and practice the sequence con- + fers with linked speech.
Yes. The first syllable is typically unstressed and reduced to a schwa /kən/ in many dialects, so you hear /kənˈfɜrz/ in US English. Some speakers may slightly emphasize the /n/ sound, but the dominant pattern is a reduced first syllable with a full, stressed second syllable. In careful speech, you can hear the crisp /kən/ onset before the /ˈfɜr/ nucleus.
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- US: emphasize rhotic /ɜr/ with a strong /r/ coloring; ensure the /z/ is voiced and linked. - UK: often non-rhotic; the second syllable has a longer /ɜː/ vowel, final /z/ or sometimes /s/ depending on voicing; avoid rolling /r/. - AU: similar to UK non-rhotic patterns; maintain the /ɜː/ vowel and final /z/; keep the first syllable reduced /kən/ but clear enough to avoid confusion with /kən/ vs /kɔn/; watch vowel quality differences and a slightly flatter intonation.
Confers derives from the verb confer, from Latin conferre, meaning to bring together or carry to a place of exchange. Conferre itself is a compound of com- (together) and ferre (to bear, carry). In Latin, it was used in phrases indicating bringing things together or consulting, which over time broadened to mean granting something or exchanging information. The noun form confererlicher appears in legal and formal contexts historically, indicating the act of bestowing. In English, confer has been used since Middle English, with senses shifting from a physical bringing together in councils to more abstract meanings of bestowing honors or rights. By Early Modern English, confer explicitly captured the sense of bestowing degrees, titles, or privileges, or of holding a discussion to decide. The present tense form confers (he/she/it confers) appears in standard usage as the third-person singular of confer, reflecting regular verb conjugation. Throughout its history, the word has retained formal or semi-formal connotations, especially in institutional or ceremonial settings, while also appearing in general contexts relating to exchange or consultation.
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Words that rhyme with "confers"
-fer sounds
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