3 syllables: con, trib, utes. Stress on trib.
kuhn-TRIB-yoots
/kənˈtɹɪbjuts/
contributes is pronounced kuhn-TRIB-yoots (/kənˈtɹɪbjuts/). It has three syllables (con-trib-utes), with the stress on "trib". Contributes is a verb meaning to give in order to help achieve or add to something; it often implies providing information, effort, or resources toward a common goal. In everyday use, it can refer to offering both tangible support and ideas within a group context. The form here is third-person singular present of contribute.
Contributes is a verb meaning to give in order to help achieve or add to something; it often implies providing information, effort, or resources toward a common goal. In everyday use, it can refer to offering both tangible support and ideas within a group context. The form here is third-person singular present of contribute.
"She contributes significantly to the team’s success by sharing data and insights."
"Each member contributes a small donation to the fundraiser."
"The author contributes a chapter to the upcoming anthology."
Pronounce it as kən-TRIB-yuts (US) or kən-TRIB.yuːts (UK). The primary stress is on the second syllable: con-TRIB-utes. The first syllable is a reduced schwa. The middle cluster 'trib' uses a clear 't' followed by a strong 'r' and short 'i' vowel. The final vowel is a reduced 'u' plus a 'ts' sound. Link to audio resources: you can hear the stress and the 'tr' cluster in dictionaries or pronunciation sites such as Forvo or Cambridge.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable instead of the second (con-TRI-butes), pronouncing it as 'con-TRIB-ut-es' with an extra syllable, and mispronouncing /tr/ as separate 't' and 'r' without the correct blend. Correct by maintaining a tight /tr/ sequence after the stressed syllable, using a quick, smooth transition from the schwa to the /tr/ cluster, and ending with /ʃ/ or /s/ sound? No—end with /ts/. Practice careful linking to the next word to avoid an extra vowel insertion.
In US English, the final /ts/ tends to be crisp with a light t and s, and the vowel in the first syllable is a reduced schwa. UK English features a very tight /t/ followed by a crisp /ʃ?/ Wait—no, here the /t/ is crisp and the ending is /ts/ again, but with slightly less vocal emphasis on the starting vowel in some dialects. Australian English typically rounds vowels less in the first syllable and has a non-rhotic or mildly rhotic variant; the main difference is a slightly stronger 'u' sound before the final /ts/. Overall, the rhyme and rhythm are close, but the vowel durations and rhotics differ subtly.
The difficulty comes from the consonant cluster /trɪb-/ after a reduced vowel, and the final /ts/ happening quickly in fluent speech. The /r/ or lack of rhoticity in some accents can change the perceived stress. Also, when followed by a vowel-starting word, speakers may insert a light linking sound that changes the perceived rhythm. Focus on the /tr/ blend and the final /ts/; keep the first syllable unstressed and maintain a short central vowel.
A unique tip is to practice the /kənˈtrɪb.juːts/ variant with a light, quick release in the final /ts/ and to keep the middle 'trib' segment tight: /ˈtrɪb/ with a quick transition from /ɪ/ to /j/ before the /uːts/ in some speakers. Use a slow-to-fast progression, emphasize the second syllable strongly, and rehearse in short phrases to reinforce the natural rhythm of the word in continuous speech.
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US: rhotic, /r/ is pronounced; short schwa in the first syllable; final /ts/ crisp. UK: non-rhotic-ish in careful speech, but many speakers still articulate /r/ in some environments; final /ts/ is crisp. AU: vowel qualities can be broader; /r/ may be non-rhotic; stress similar on the second syllable; watch for vowel lengthening in the final syllable before a following word. IPA references: US /kənˈtrɪˌbjuːts/; UK /kənˈtrɪb.juːts/; AU /kənˈtrɪb.juːts/.
Contributes comes from the verb contribute, which itself comes from the Latin com- ‘together’ and tribuere ‘to grant, assign, or contribute.’ The Latin root is tribuere, connected to tribus ‘a share, portion, or allotment’ and to the noun tributum ‘tribute, payment.’ Over time, contribute broadened from the sense of giving a share to imply giving effort, information, or work toward a common project. In Middle English, contribute appeared in forms indicating joint giving or aid, gradually shifting to the modern sense of adding to a collective effort. The word consolidates the idea of voluntary or required input from individuals within a group. The first known uses in English appear in legal and literary contexts where a person is asked to contribute resources or information to a common cause, with the sense evolving through the 16th to 18th centuries as collaborative projects became more common in science, literature, and governance.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "contributes" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "contributes"
-cts sounds
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