2 syllables: Key, holes. Stress on Key.
KEE-hohlz
/ˈkiˌhoʊlz/
Keyholes is pronounced KEE-hohlz (/ˈkiˌhoʊlz/). It has two syllables (Key-holes), with the stress on "Key". Keyholes is a plural noun referring to openings or apertures in locks, doors, or protective devices through which a key is inserted. It can also denote the small, circular or rectangular holes in mechanical or security equipment designed to read or guide keys. Contextually, it often appears in discussions of security hardware or architectural details.
nounKeyholes is a plural noun referring to openings or apertures in locks, doors, or protective devices through which a key is inserted. It can also denote the small, circular or rectangular holes in mechanical or security equipment designed to read or guide keys. Contextually, it often appears in discussions of security hardware or architectural details.
- Vowel length confusion: treat the first syllable as a long E (KEY) and ensure it’s clearly elongated before the second syllable. Don’t reduce it to a short /i/; keep a steady, tense vowel. - Second-syllable diphthong mispronunciation: US /hoʊ/ vs UK/AU /həʊ/. Practice with mouth shape: lips rounded for /oʊ/ and a more relaxed mid vowel for /əʊ/. - Final consonant cluster /lz/: ensure you voice the /z/ clearly after the /l/, avoiding a hissy /s/ or a silent /z/. - Linkage in rapid speech: avoid running /ˈkiˌhoʊlz/ together too quickly, which can blur the boundary between syllables. - Stress misplacement: keep primary stress on the first syllable (KEY-), not equal stress on the second. Tips: isolate each element, then connect with slow, precise transitions.
"The janitor forgot to clean the keyholes on the old cabinet."
"In the security drill, we inspected all the keyholes for obstructions."
"The architect specified brass keyholes to match the door hardware."
You say it as /ˈkiˌhoʊlz/ in US English or /ˈkiːˌhəʊlz/ in UK/AU. The primary stress lands on the first syllable: KEY-holes. Start with /k/ + /iː/ (long E) then a light /h/ onset for the second syllable, followed by /oʊ/ (long O) in US or /əʊ/ in UK/AU. Make the /lz/ ending crisp with a slightly released /l/ before the final /z/. Practice by saying “Key—holes” slowly, then speed up while keeping the vowel quality consistent.
Two common errors are shortening the first vowel too much and merging the two syllables so it sounds like ‘key-holes’ with a flat /o/ instead of the full /oʊ/ or /əʊ/. Another frequent mistake is misplacing the secondary stress or de-emphasizing the /h/ leading to ‘kee-ohls’. Correct by emphasizing the first syllable with a clear long E, render /hoʊ/ as a rounded long O, and maintain the /l/ before the final /z/ for a clean, plural ending.
In US English, you’ll hear KEY-hohls with a strong long E and a pronounced /oʊ/ in the second syllable. UK and AU varieties often show a subtler /hɔːlz/ or /hoʊlz/ with less rhotic influence on the following syllable, and some speakers reduce /hoʊ/ toward /həʊ/ but keep the long vowel quality on the second syllable. The overall stress remains on the first syllable, while the rhoticity of the /r/ is non-existent in most UK/AU dialects, affecting the connected flow of the second vowel. IPA references: US /ˈkiˌhoʊlz/, UK/AU /ˈkiːˌhəʊlz/.
The challenge lies in the two-syllable structure with a tense on the first syllable and a diphthong in the second (/oʊ/ or /əʊ/). The /h/ onset to the second syllable creates a subtle pause and a transition that can slip in rapid speech. The final /lz/ cluster also requires a precise, voiced alveolar lateral and z-sound without assimilation. Focus on keeping the first syllable long and clear, then smoothly glide into the second syllable’s diphthong while ending with a crisp /l/ + /z/.
The word blends a strong initial consonant cluster /k/ + long vowel /iː/ and a distinctive second syllable with a stressed vowel quality that shifts from a long E to a rounded, tense closing. Learners often insert an extra vowel between /k/ and /iː/ or fail to realize the /h/ is part of the second syllable, not the first. Also, the plural ending /-z/ requires precise voicing after the alveolar /l/; otherwise it can sound like /-s/ or /-z/ inconsistently. Practical tip: practice “Key” and “holes” separately, then blend with a controlled pause.
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- US: emphasize the /iː/ length in the first syllable; the second syllable carries /hoʊ/ with rounded lips; final /lz/ should be quick but audible. - UK: the first vowel tends toward a longer /iː/, second syllable often uses /həʊ/ with a more centralized /ə/; keep non-rhoticity in mind (no /r/ after vowels). - AU: similar to UK but with a flatter vowel in some speakers; maintain /ˈkiːˌhəʊlz/ and ensure the /l/ is clear before /z/. Use IPA: US /ˈkiˌhoʊlz/, UK/AU /ˈkiːˌhəʊlz/.- Common pitfalls include vowel merger and over-aspiration of /h/. Practice by mapping mouth shapes, keeping the second vowel rounded, and finishing with a crisp z.
Keyholes derives from the combination of key and hole. The noun key originated in Old English cæg, from Proto-Germanic * KAIG- meaning a device to operate locks. Hole, from Old English hol, from Proto-Germanic *hulitho, signified an opening. The compound key + hole first appeared in Middle English, aligning with hardware and locksmithing terminology as doors and locks became more standardized in households and municipal buildings. Early references describe keyholes as small apertures in wooden locks through which keys could be introduced. Over centuries, as metal lock mechanisms evolved, “keyhole” maintained its literal sense but also acquired metaphorical meaning (e.g., “keyhole surgery” in the mid-20th century) to describe viewing or accessing through a narrow entry. The plural form “keyholes” follows standard English pluralization by adding -es to words ending with a sibilant/soft s sound, reinforcing the security hardware context as multiple apertures are common in larger doors or antique furniture. First written attestations appear in locksmithing manuals and architectural catalogs from the 15th–17th centuries, with more frequent usage in 18th–19th century building plans as standardized hardware sets proliferated. Modern usage spans security hardware discussions, furniture design, and metaphorical uses in literature and media.
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Words that rhyme with "Keyholes"
-les sounds
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