3 syllables: De, li, bes. Stress on li.
duh-LEEBZ
/dəˈliːbz/
Delibes is pronounced duh-LEEBZ (/dəˈliːbz/). It has three syllables (De-li-bes), with the stress on "li". Delibes is a proper noun, used as a surname or the name of a composer (e.g., Léo Delibes). It denotes a person or family name and is pronounced with two syllables in French-influenced usage, typically stressed on the first syllable, and preserving the French vowel qualities. In modern English contexts, it’s treated as a single, recognizable surname and spoken with careful vowel articulation rather than anglicized general rules.
nounDelibes is a proper noun, used as a surname or the name of a composer (e.g., Léo Delibes). It denotes a person or family name and is pronounced with two syllables in French-influenced usage, typically stressed on the first syllable, and preserving the French vowel qualities. In modern English contexts, it’s treated as a single, recognizable surname and spoken with careful vowel articulation rather than anglicized general rules.
"The performance featured the works of Delibes, including his famous ballets."
"I’m researching Delibes for a music-history paper."
"Her family name, Delibes, appears in the credits for the opera recording."
Pronounce Delibes as DEL-ihbz in US/UK/AU; the stress sits on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈdɛlɪbz/, UK /ˈdɛlɪbz/, AU /ˈdɛlɪbz/. Start with a clear, open-mid front vowel in the first syllable, then a relaxed, voiced bilabial stop transitioning to a voiced alveolar fricative z-like end; the final s is voiced, not a hard s. Mouth: lips rounded minimally on the first vowel, then relax to glide into /b/ and /z/ at the end. If you’re speaking French-influenced usage, you’d perceive a tighter /b/ before the /z/ and a subtler vowel in the second syllable.
Common mistakes include: (1) stressing the second syllable (de-LIBES) instead of DEL-ibz; (2) mispronouncing the final /z/ as a voiceless /s/ or fully silent; (3) treating the second syllable vowel as a lax schwa rather than a clear /ɪ/. Correction tips: keep primary stress on DEL, articulate the second syllable with a short /ɪ/ followed by a voiced /b/ and /z/, ensure the /z/ is not devoiced in fluent speech, and practice with a brief voice-onset time between /l/ and /ɪ/. Gradually integrate connected speech cues to maintain the two-syllable rhythm.
In US/UK/AU, all share DEL-ihbz with a voiced final /z/. The main differences are in rhotics and vowel quality: US tends to be rhotic in connected speech, UK often has a crisper /l/ and lighter final consonant, and AU may soften the final /z/ slightly with Australian vowel timing. The /ɪ/ in the second syllable is usually a short, near-close front vowel, but UK speakers may edge toward a slightly more centralized /ɪ/ under stress. Overall, the core segments remain DEL-ɪbz; keep the second syllable quick and punchy.
The difficulty lies in preserving the two-syllable rhythm with accurate French-influenced vowel quality, and producing a voiced final /z/ after /b/ without letting the tongue relax into a neutral vowel. English speakers often anglicize to de-LEEBS or deli-BEES; keep the second syllable short, ensure the /ɪ/ is not reduced too much, and maintain voicing for /z/. Mastery requires attention to breath support for a clean transition from /b/ to /z/ and awareness of subtle French intonation cues.
A unique aspect is the culmination of a bilabial stop /b/ immediately followed by an alveolar fricative /z/, which must be voiced and lightly released. This creates a quick, connected ending that can blur in rapid speech. Focus on a short, decisive closure for /b/ and an audible but not exaggerated /z/. In professional contexts, aim for a crisp, almost whispered final consonant that preserves the name’s elegant, European-origin character.
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Delibes is a French surname derived from toponymic or personal name origins typical in French nomenclature. The root likely derives from elements meaning “from the town of Debise/Delibes” or a descriptive nickname tied to a geographic or occupational origin in medieval France. The spelling with -ibes reflects conventional French orthography where -ibes can denote plural or collective surnames; pronunciation in French would place primary stress on the last syllable, with the final -es muted or softly voiced in many contexts. The surname gained prominence through artistic lineage, most notably the 19th-century composer Léo Delibes (1836–1891), whose international reputation carried the family name into music history. In English-language texts, Delibes is treated as an uninflected proper noun, retaining its French pronunciation cues but commonly anglicized only minimally. First known usage in recorded sources appears in 18th- to 19th-century French documents and music-critical literature, where families and artists bearing the name were cited in scores, catalogs, and press reviews. Over time, the name has acquired recognition primarily through cultural associations with French Romantic music and ballet, and through contemporary references in performances and biographical works, ensuring its continued presence in international concert programming and scholarship.
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Words that rhyme with "Delibes"
-ves sounds
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