2 syllables: ex, pose. Stress on pose.
ik-SPOHZ
/ɪkˈspoʊz/
expose is pronounced ik-SPOHZ (/ɪkˈspoʊz/). It has two syllables (ex-pose), with the stress on "pose". Expose means to uncover or reveal something that was hidden or private. It can also mean to subject someone or something to a new situation or experience, often with the sense of bringing them into public view or making them vulnerable. The term appears in both literal and figurative contexts, including journalism, investigations, and personal exposure to ideas or environments.
Expose means to uncover or reveal something that was hidden or private. It can also mean to subject someone or something to a new situation or experience, often with the sense of bringing them into public view or making them vulnerable. The term appears in both literal and figurative contexts, including journalism, investigations, and personal exposure to ideas or environments.
"The investigation will expose new evidence that changes the case."
"She decided to expose the faulty wiring to prevent a future fire."
"The documentary exposes the harsh realities of life in the refugee camps."
Phonetic pronunciation: US /ɪkˈspoʊz/; UK /ɪkˈspəʊz/; AU typically /ɪkˈspəʊz/. Start with a short /ɪ/ sound, then the /k/ cluster, then a stressed /ˈspoʊ/ or /ˈspəʊ/ depending on accent, and end with a voiced /z/. In every case the stress is on the second syllable, and the /s/ blends into a clear /p/ release before the final /z/. Try to maintain a clean /z/ rather than a dimmed /s/ at the end.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing the stress as on the first syllable – say exPOSE with stress the second syllable. (2) Reducing the vowel in the second syllable to /ə/ too much, producing /ɪkˈsəpoʊz/ instead of /ɪkˈspoʊz/ or /ɪkˈspəʊz/. (3) Merging /s/ and /p/ into a mushy cluster or misproducing /sp/ as /s/ or /z/; ensure you release /p/ into /z/ clearly. (4) Final /z/ voice is too weak or devoiced in rapid speech; keep voicing strong for a clear /z/.
US tends to keep a tight /ˈspoʊ/ vowel and a crisp /ɪ/ before /k/. UK often shows a fuller /əʊ/ in /ˈspəʊz/ with a slightly less tensed /ɪ/ in the first syllable when unstressed. Australian tends to merge /əʊ/ similarly to UK but with a flatter vowel quality and possible broader diphthongization. Across all, the critical elements are stress on the second syllable, clear /sp/ onset after the first vowel, and a voiced final /z/. Note rhoticity does not affect this word in most dialects.
The challenge lies in the /ks/ or /k s/ sequence after the initial vowel and the /sp/ cluster leading into a strong final /z/. Keeping the tongue close for /k/ and then moving quickly to /s/ and /p/ before voicing the /z/ requires precise timing, especially when the word is held in a sentence with fast rhythm. Additionally, balancing the /ɪ/ or /ə/ quality before /k/ and deciding between /spoʊ/ vs /spəʊ/ depending on accent can create variability. Focus on the transition between consonants and voicing of the final /z/.
Yes, the second syllable contains the core vowel blend that defines the word’s accent. In American English, the stressed vowel is part of /ˈspoʊ/ with a tight close-o vowel, whereas in British English you may hear /ˈspəʊ/ with a more centralized first vowel in the second syllable. Practitioners should emphasize the transition from /sp/ to /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ cleanly and avoid inserting an extra vowel between /s/ and /p/.
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Expose originates from the 14th century via Old French esposer, from Latin exponere, meaning ‘to set forth, lay bare’. The verb exposed or exposé entered English through the legal or rhetorical sense of laying something open to view. The prefix ex- implies outward or former, while pose means to place or put forth; together they convey making something visible or susceptible to scrutiny. Early English usage often related to placing objects in public view or presenting arguments. Over time, expose broadened to contexts including journalism, science, and personal experiences, retaining the core sense of making something visible or vulnerable to examination. The noun exposé (with accent on the final syllable) arrived to denote a journalistic report that reveals wrongdoing, a use popularized in the late 19th to early 20th century. The word’s semantic field has grown to include metaphorical exposure—exposure to ideas, risk, or influence—while the adjective exposed and the phrasal verb exposure (the act of being exposed or the degree to which one is exposed) round out the family.
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Words that rhyme with "expose"
-ose sounds
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