3 syllables: ex, plo, sives. Stress on plo.
/ɪkˈspləˌsɪvz/
Say it backExplosives refers to substances or devices designed to explode or cause fragmentation and release a large amount of energy rapidly. The term can describe material used for mining, demolition, or weapons. In everyday usage, it often appears in safety, regulation, and law contexts, or in discussions of criminal activity. It is a plural noun form, though sometimes used attributively with adjectives like 'highly explosive'.
"The factory was shut down after a routine inspection revealed improper storage of explosives."
"Authorities classified the substance as explosives and treated the scene as a potential blast risk."
"The detonator chain was tested to ensure the explosives would function under controlled conditions."
Break it as /ɪkˈspləʊ.sɪvz/. Start with a short 'i' as in 'kit', then a strong second syllable with 'splow' and the sibilant ending '-sɪvz'. The primary stress is on the second syllable 'splō'. Mouth: lips neutral to spread for /ɪ/ and /ɒ/; for /ɒʊ/ in non-rhotic accents it may shift slightly toward /oʊ/. In US you’ll hear /ɪkˈsploʊsɪvz/ with a rounded /oʊ/. For UK: /ɪkˈspləʊ.sɪvz/ with a more centralized /ə/ in the first unstressed syllable. Audio reference: consult Cambridge or Forvo entries for native speakers.
Common errors: misplacing stress (saying eks-PLO-sives) instead of ik-SPLŌ-səvz; mispronouncing the second syllable as /plø/ or /pləw/; omitting the final /z/ or devoice it to /s/. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable with a clear /ˈspləʊ/ (UK) or /ˈsploʊ/ (US) and finishing with /-sɪvz/. Practice by saying ‘explosive’ with the same root but dropping the -s, then add the final -s, being careful not to reduce the middle vowel.
US: /ɪkˈploʊˌsɪvz/ with clear /oʊ/ in the stressed vowel; UK: /ɪkˈspləʊ.sɪvz/ with /əʊ/ and less vowel height in unstressed syllable; AU: similar to UK but with flatter intonation and closer to /ɪkˈspləʊ.sɪvz/, sometimes a slightly tighter /ɪkˈspləʊ.sɪvz/ depending on speaker. The primary stress remains on the second syllable, but vowel quality varies: rhoticity affects /ɹ/ presence (US rhotic) depending on speaker; Australian generally non-rhotic but with a prominent /əʊ/ in /spləʊ/.
Difficult because of the consonant cluster at the start of the stressed syllable /kspl/ and the transition from /spl/ to /ɪv/ with final /z/. People often misplace the /k/ and devoice /z/; also the unstressed /ə/ vs /ɪ/ in second vowel between consonants. A precise articulation of /ɪkˈspləʊ.sɪvz/ requires careful tongue positioning: quick release of /k/ into /s/ and a rolling transition into /pl/ cluster, followed by the /ə/ or /oʊ/ depending on accent, and a final voiced /z/.
There are no silent letters in explosives; every letter usually participates in the pronunciation. The key feature is the stress pattern: ik-SPLÔ-sɪvz, with primary stress on the second syllable and a clear, robust /pl/ cluster in the onset of the second syllable. The ending /-sɪvz/ is a voiced-sibilant sequence; ensure the /z/ is voiced and not devoiced to /s/. This makes the word sound crisp and precise, especially in safety briefings where accuracy matters.
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Explosives derives from the verb explode, via the Latin explosus meaning 'driven out, driven off', from the prefix ex- (out) and the verb forciere? (not standard). The sense evolved in English through late Middle English, aligning with gunpowder-era terminology. The compound -ives is a common plural/agentive suffix in English, yielding terms like explosives (plural noun) and explosive (adjective/noun). The first clear attestations of the plural form explosives appear in scientific and military literature of the 19th century, aligned with advances in mining, construction, and weaponry. Over time, the term broadened to include any material capable of rapid oxidation and detonation, not only traditional gunpowder. In modern usage, explosives is almost always a regulated commodity, with strict controls and safety protocols in place to manage risk, storage, and transport. In legal contexts, phrases like “explosives precursors” and “explosives manufacturing” reflect its continued relevance across safety, industry, and law enforcement.” ,
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Words that rhyme with "explosives"
-ves sounds
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