2 syllables: Du, plex. Stress on Du.
DOO-pleks
/ˈduˌplɛks/
Duplex is pronounced DOO-pleks (/ˈduˌplɛks/). It has two syllables (Du-plex), with the stress on "Du". Duplex (n.) A two-unit dwelling or structure, often designed as two living spaces connected but separate. The term can also describe a two-layered or dual-function object. In specialized contexts, duplex may appear in biology, engineering, or telecommunications to denote paired components or a paired channel.
nounDuplex (n.) A two-unit dwelling or structure, often designed as two living spaces connected but separate. The term can also describe a two-layered or dual-function object. In specialized contexts, duplex may appear in biology, engineering, or telecommunications to denote paired components or a paired channel.
How to Pronounce Duplex
"She bought a duplex in the suburb, planning to rent out one unit."
"The lab ordered a duplex antenna to improve signal diversity."
"Their new apartment is a duplex, with a staircase separating the two floors."
Duplex is stressed on the first syllable: /ˈduː.pleks/ in US, and /ˈdjuː.pleks/ in many UK/AU pronunciations. Break it into two syllables: DUU-ples with a long /uː/ or /juː/ onset, followed by /pleks/. Mouth position starts with a closed front vowel for the first vowel in US; in UK/AU you’ll often hear an initial /dj/ onset before /uː/. Imagine saying “doo-plecks” quickly but clearly, ensuring the /p/ is light and the final /ks/ cluster remains crisp.
Common errors: treating the first syllable as a short /u/ (du-ples instead of /ˈduː/); dropping the /j/ in the /djuː/ onset in UK/AU variants, producing /ˈduː.pleks/ with missing /j/; and mispronouncing the final /ks/ as /s/ or /k/. Verification tips: emphasize the /juː/ or /uː/ onset by starting with a tight jaw and rounded lips for /uː/ and slightly palatalize for /j/; ensure the final /ks/ is a crisp double articulation, not a loose /k s/ blend.
In US pronunciation, /ˈduː.pleks/ with a longer /uː/ and a clean /pleks/. In UK and AU, /ˈdjuː.pleks/ often features a /dj/ onset after the initial /d/ and a more fronted vowel in the second syllable. Some UK speakers reduce the /juː/ to /uː/ in casual speech. Overall, rhoticity isn’t the main issue here; rather, the presence or absence of the /j/ before the /uː/ vowel and the confidence in the /pleks/ final consonant cluster differentiates the accents.
Two key challenges: the /juː/ vs /uː/ onset can be tricky, requiring a brief y-sound before a long vowel; and the final /ks/ cluster can be mispronounced as /k/ or /s/ when spoken quickly. You’ll hear learners either simplify to /ˈduː.plek/ or merge /juː/ into a plain /uː/; practice by isolating the onset with a slight palatal glide and ending with a tight, crisp /ks/ release. Ensure the first syllable has strong stress to anchor rhythm and meaning.
No letters are silent in standard pronunciations of duplex. The word is pronounced with two clearly enunciated syllables: /ˈduː.pleks/ or /ˈdjuː.pleks/. The /d/ is pronounced, the second syllable starts with a vowel that carries the primary stress, and the final /ks/ is two distinct sounds. Paying attention to the smooth transition between /duː/ or /djuː/ and /pleks/ helps avoid reducing the word unintentionally.
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Duplex comes from Latin duplex, meaning double or twofold, formed by duo- (two) + plicare (to fold). The word entered English via Late Latin or medieval Latin as duplexus, then Old French duplex, before arriving in English with the sense of a twofold structure. The early senses referred to something folded or double, gradually narrowing to a two-unit dwelling and, later, to anything consisting of two parts in a connected arrangement. The prefix duo- signals two, while -plex derives from plicare, to fold or weave, indicating a structure with two linked components. In architectural and publishing terms, duplex retained the sense of dual connectivity (two living units, two-sided printing). Over centuries, the usage broadened from physical constructs to abstract dualities in telecommunications and data structures, where duplex describes alternating or bidirectional channels. First known English uses appear in 17th–18th century texts discussing windings or layers, with a notable shift into real estate and media technology as urban housing and print technology evolved. The term is now common in real estate, engineering, and tech contexts, maintaining its core meaning of two parts in conjunction.
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Words that rhyme with "Duplex"
-lex sounds
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