2 syllables: gos, pels. Stress on gos.
GAH-spuhlz
/ˈɡɑspəlz/
gospels is pronounced GAH-spuhlz (/ˈɡɑspəlz/). It has two syllables (gos-pels), with the stress on "gos". Gospels (plural noun) refers to the first four books of the New Testament, or to early accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus. It can also denote widely accepted or authoritative accounts of events. In common use, it often appears in religious or academic contexts and can imply tradition-based narratives. The term is typically pluralized and used with singular or collective verb agreement depending on sense.
Gospels (plural noun) refers to the first four books of the New Testament, or to early accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus. It can also denote widely accepted or authoritative accounts of events. In common use, it often appears in religious or academic contexts and can imply tradition-based narratives. The term is typically pluralized and used with singular or collective verb agreement depending on sense.
- Phonetic challenge 1: Final -s sound after a reduced syllable can be mispronounced as a hard /s/ or omitted in casual speech. Correction: keep the final /z/; end with a voiced z after a gentle /əl/. - Phonetic challenge 2: Vowel in the first syllable can slide toward /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ depending on speaker. Correction: keep a crisp /ɒ/ (as in 'lot'), with the following /sp/ sequence clearly released. - Phonetic challenge 3: The /sp/ cluster may be swallowed; ensure a strong, brief /s/ then /p/ before the /əlz/. Practice: [GOS-pəlz] with a crisp release on /s/ and a voiced /z/ at the end.
"- The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John form the canonical biographies of Jesus."
"- Scholars compare the four gospels to understand the historical context of Jesus’ ministry."
"- In some churches, the gospels are read aloud during service."
US/UK/AU pronunciation is /ˈɡɒspəlz/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: GOS-. The middle vowel is a schwa in many accents: 'gops-əlz'. Mouth positions: start with a rounded /ɡ/ stop, follow with /ɒ/ as in 'lot', then /s/ or /z/ for the final s, and an unstressed /əl/ before z. Think: 'GOSP-uhls' with light lip rounding on the /ɒ/ for some speakers. For audio reference, listen to standard pronunciations on Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries.
Two frequent errors: (1) Dropping the /s/ sound and saying 'gop-uls' without the final -s; (2) Vocalizing the middle vowel as a full /o/ or /ɔ/ instead of a reduced /ə/ in the second syllable. Correct by keeping /ɒ/ in the first vowel, then reduce the second syllable to /əl/ with a light, relaxed tongue, and add the final /z/. Practice: GOS-pəlz with a clear but light final consonant.
US: /ˈɡɒspəlz/ with broader /ɒ/ and a rhotic /ɹ/ not present; UK: /ˈɡɒsp(ə)lz/ with a more pronounced schwa in the second syllable and often a shorter /ə/; AU: /ˈɡɒspəlz/ similar to UK but with slightly flatter vowels and more voiced final consonant. In all, the key is first-syllable stress and a light, unstressed second syllable; the final /z/ remains voiced, not /s/.
Difficulties center on three features: (a) the two-syllable rhythm with a reduced second syllable, which can blur the /ɒ/ to /ɔ/; (b) the final voiced /z/ after an unstressed syllable, which often becomes /s/ or a devoiced sound in fast speech; (c) subtle vowel length differences that affect the quality of the first syllable vowel depending on accent. Mastery comes from practicing the transition from stressed /ɡɒs/ to the light /əlz/ and keeping the final z clear.
The word often prompts listeners to expect religious or academic contexts; ensure your lips and tongue begin with a compact /ɡ/ closure, then open into /ɒ/ and /sp/ cluster before the light /əlz/. The key nuance is preserving the /sp/ cluster before the soft /əl/ and ensuring the final /z/ is audible, not replaced by a voiceless /s/. Practicing with minimal pairs like 'gospel' vs. 'gospels' helps solidify the plural form and its phonetic ending.
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- US: /ˈɡɒspəlz/ with a more clipped second syllable; sharper /ɒ/ and a clear /z/. - UK: /ˈɡɒsp(ə)lz/ often a stronger schwa in the second syllable and a lighter /z/; can have a more pronounced vowel reduction in fast speech. - AU: /ˈɡɒspəlz/ similar to UK but with flatter vowels and possibly less rhotic emphasis; final /z/ remains. Vowel contrasts: keep /ɒ/ as the short open back vowel; the second syllable uses a reduced /ə/ in most accents. Consonants: maintain the /sp/ cluster intact; avoid inserting extra vowels between /s/ and /p/. IPA references: US /ˈɡɒspəlz/, UK /ˈɡɒsp(ə)lz/, AU /ˈɡɒspəlz/.
The word gospel comes from Old English gōd-spell, literally 'good news' (gōd = good; spell/spel = news, story, message). The phrase was later conflated into gospel as a single word. In early Christian usage, gospel denoted the good news of Jesus Christ and the accounts of his life and teachings. The term was influenced by Latin evangelium and Greek euangelion, both meaning 'good news.' By the 2nd century,
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "gospels" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "gospels" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "gospels"
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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