2 syllables: gog, gles. Stress on gog.
GAH-guhlz
/ˈɡɑɡəlz/
goggles is pronounced GAH-guhlz (/ˈɡɑɡəlz/). It has two syllables (gog-gles), with the stress on "gog". Goggles are protective eyewear with a close-fitting frame that seals around the eyes to shield them from dust, chemicals, or water. The term refers to a plural item used in various activities, from swimming to welding. In everyday language, 'goggles' also appears in phrases like.
Goggles are protective eyewear with a close-fitting frame that seals around the eyes to shield them from dust, chemicals, or water. The term refers to a plural item used in various activities, from swimming to welding. In everyday language, 'goggles' also appears in phrases like
- You may soften the initial /ɡ/ into a /ɪɡ/ or forget the first syllable stress. Make sure you lead with a crisp /ɡ/ and stress the first syllable: GOG-gles. - The /ə/ in the second syllable is quick and light; avoid turning it into a full vowel like /ɒ/ or /æ/. Practice with a minimal pair: go gles vs gog-glez. - Final z requires voicing; some learners pronounce as /s/ due to voiceless endings. Ensure your vocal cords vibrate for /z/ by gently pronouncing the suffix with a small voice. - In rapid speech, the second syllable can reduce; maintain a short, unstressed /ə/ to avoid rumbling into /ɡl/ or conflating with /ɒ/. Apply slow-proof reading: go-ggles.
"She grabbed her swim goggles before diving into the pool."
"The workshop requires safety goggles to protect your eyes."
"His fogged goggles made it hard to see the path."
Pronounce as /ˈɡɒɡəlz/ in UK/AU or /ˈɡɑːɡəlz/ in broader US, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a hard g as in go, then /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ as in cot, followed by /ɡəlz/ where the /ɡ/ links to a light /əl/ and final voiced /z/. Mouth positions: begin with a strong bilabial stop, drop to a short open back vowel, release into a clear /g/, glide into a dark /l/ and finish with a voiced /z/. Listen for the crisp /ɡ/ onset and the final /lz/ cluster. For reference: IPA guides and pronunciation apps show https://example-audio.example/goggles.
Common errors: (1) Pronouncing the second syllable as /ɒl/ instead of /əl/—the correct schwa-like /ə/ before the /l/. (2) Dropping the final /z/ or mispronouncing as /s/; ensure the voice on /z/. (3) Over- or under-suppressing the first syllable stress, making it sound like GO-gles vs. go-GLES. To correct: keep the first syllable stressed, produce a short, unstressed /ə/ in the second syllable, and articulate the final /z/ with voice onset. Practice with minimal pairs: go-gles vs giggles to feel the rhythm.
US tends to a parent stress on the first syllable with /ɡɑɡəlz/, a longer /ɒ/ sound in some regions and a clearer /z/. UK/AU often favor /ˈɡɒɡ(ə)lz/ with a shorter, more clipped second syllable; the /ɡ/ remains strong, and the /z/ remains voiced. The rhoticity isn’t strongly felt in non-rhotic accents, but the presence or absence of r before vowels doesn’t affect this word. Additionally, vowel quality in the first syllable shifts between /ɒ/ and /ɑː/ depending on regional vowel systems. Listen to voice samples to compare the subtle vowel length and lip rounding differences.
It combines a strong initial /ɡ/ with a reduced second syllable that sits against a consonant cluster /ɡəl/ before the final /z/. The sequence /ɡəɡəl/ requires precise tongue position to avoid slurring into /ɡoɡlz/ or /ˈɡɒɡlz/. The /l/ influences the following /z/; keep the /l/ light and not vowel-lengthened. Additionally, rapid speech can make the /l/ merge, so practice slowing down to feel the separation: GO-ggles, not go-ggles with a strong, abrupt l.
The word's internal structure creates an interesting consonant cluster: /ɡ/ + /ə/? not, the second syllable has /ɡəl/ where the l is light and the preceding schwa helps ease into the liquid /l/. The key unique feature is maintaining a distinct /g/ onset on both syllables and a clear, voiced /z/ at the end, without turning the second syllable into /ɡl/ or dropping the /z/. Focusing on the transition from /ɡ/ to /əl/ helps stabilize the rhythm and avoid blending into/ɡɒɡlz/.”}],
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- US: strong initial /ɡ/, vowels lean toward /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ depending on region; final -es often realized as /əɫz/ or /əlz/. - UK: shorter, crisper second syllable; the /ɡ/ onsets remain strong; vowel often /ɒ/ with less length; final /z/ remains voiced. - AU: similar to UK with slight vowel raising in /ɒ/ and a tendency toward a more clipped final /z/. Across these accents, rhoticity doesn’t alter the word itself, but preceding consonants or surrounding vowels may influence lip rounding and jaw stiffness. IPA guidance: use /ˈɡɒɡ(ə)lz/ (UK/AU) vs /ˈɡɑːɡəlz/ (US). - Practice tip: practice with minimal pairs that differentiate /ɒ/ vs /ɑː/, then move to full speed. - Emphasize breath control before the initial /ɡ/ and ensure the final /z/ is voiced.”,
Goggles derives from the early 1800s English term gogle, a variant of goggle, meaning to look with wide eyes or to stare. The root gogle is of uncertain origin, possibly imitative of the act of widening the eyes, with -es rendering a plural noun. The sense evolution moved from a general noun for things that make someone gaze to the specific protective eyewear used in water-related or dangerous environments. In the 19th century, 'goggles' began appearing in technical writings to distinguish close-fitting eye protection from ordinary glasses. The word likely borrowed from French or Dutch influences in the broader sea-faring and military contexts of the era, where specialized gear needed durable, seal-brimmed designs. Over time, the term broadened to include varied styles, including swimming goggles, ski goggles, and safety goggles, with the core idea of environmental shielding around the eyes remaining constant. First known use in print appears in the mid-19th century, with later 20th-century standardized usage in industrial and sports settings, reflecting advances in materials and ergonomics. Modern usage emphasizes functionality and fit, commonly paired with adjectives like swim, safety, or welding.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "goggles" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "goggles"
-les sounds
-ies sounds
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