Labels refers to pieces of paper or other markers that identify or classify something, or to brand names and taglines used to categorize items, people, or ideas. The plural form denotes multiple labels, often used in contexts like shipping, organization, or data tagging. In linguistics or publishing, it can also describe labels on diagrams or figures. It conveys a cohesive sense of names or tags applied to objects.
- You often flatten the first syllable: make sure you pronounce /ˈleɪ/ as a true diphthong, not a short /e/; practice with “lay” to anchor the sound. - The second syllable can turn into a strong /əl/; keep it light and quick as /-bəl/ with a reduced schwa, not a full vowel. - Final consonant voicing matters: avoid /s/ by default; use a voiceless onset for the preceding vowel and then voice the /z/. - In rapid speech, you might run the sounds together; train to separate but flow: /ˈleɪ.-bəlz/ rather than merging to /ˈleɪbz/.
- US: keep a clear /ˈleɪ/ with a robust vowel quality and a fully voiced final /z/. - UK: slightly reduced vowel movement in /ˈleɪ.bəlz/, maintain non-rhoticity, final /z/ remains voiced. - AU: similar to US, but you may hear a slightly softer /ɪ/ or reduced /ə/ in the second syllable; keep /bəl/ light but present. Across all, ensure the /z/ is audible in connected speech. IPA anchors: US /ˈleɪ.bəlz/, UK /ˈleɪ.bəlz/, AU /ˈleɪ.bəlz/.
"I attached the labels to the folders so everything is easy to find."
"The fashion labels at the store are known for quality and sustainability."
"In data science, the labels in the training set determine how the model learns."
"She peeled off the old price labels and replaced them with new ones."
Labels comes from the noun label, borrowed from Middle French label, from Old North French label, from Medieval Latin etichetta meaning ‘a little label or badge,’ related to etichetta ‘ticket’ or ‘badge.’ The root label traces to Latin latum ‘to bear, carry,’ with influence from Greek lehtein? The term as a mark of identification emerged in English in the early modern period, evolving from simple tags affixed to objects to more formalized classification or brand identifiers. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the idea of a label expanded into data labeling for machine learning and product branding, making it a common term in business, publishing, and tech. The word’s semantic drift from a physical tag to any descriptive identifier shows its flexibility across contexts, including packaging, marketing, information systems, and metadata. First known use appears in technical or merchandising contexts around the 15th-16th centuries, gradually broadening to general usage as labeling became a standard practice across industries and sciences.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Labels" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Labels" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Labels" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Labels"
-les sounds
-ils sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as /ˈleɪ.bəlz/. The first syllable carries primary stress: LA- with a long 'a' sound, like 'lay.' The second syllable is a schwa /ə/ in casual speech or a light /əl/ before the final /z/. The final consonant is voiced as /z/ in most contexts, sounding like a buzzing z. Tip: keep the mouth open for the first diphthong and then relax the jaw for the weak second syllable. IPA helps: /ˈleɪ.bəlz/.
Common mistakes include truncating the second syllable to /əl/ with a reduced or mis-stressed ending, or mispronouncing the first syllable as /lɛɪ/ instead of /ˈleɪ/. Another error is voicing the final consonant as /s/ instead of /z/ in fluent speech. To correct: emphasize the /ˈleɪ/ beat, keep the second syllable unstressed but audible as /-bəl/ with a short schwa, and voice the final /z/ clearly in connected speech.
US/UK/AU all share /ˈleɪ.bəlz/ in broad terms, but rhotic vs non-rhotic influences show slightly: US and AU tend to maintain a clear /r/ absence (no /r/ after vowel) but may show stronger /l/ clarity in /bəlz/. The UK can be subtly less rhotic, with a slightly reduced schwa in rapid speech. Vowel quality: US often has a clearer /eɪ/; UK may have slightly closer /eɪ/ with less diphthongal movement depending on region. The final /z/ is consistently voiced across these accents.
The difficulty comes from the shifting stress on the first syllable, the /eɪ/ diphthong in the first syllable, and the final /l/+/z/ cluster that blends in rapid speech. Many learners reduce /ˈleɪ.bəlz/ to /ˈlɛbz/ or mispronounce the final /z/ as /s/. Practice by isolating the /ˈleɪ/ portion, then add a clear /bəlz/ with a voiced /z/ and the correct tongue positioning for the final consonant.
For search optimization and vocal queries, ensure you capture the /ˈleɪ.bəlz/ with a clear first syllable and final voiced /z/. Musically, the word has a rising-to-falling pitch pattern in phrases like 'the product labels' where the noun often carries stress on the first syllable but the following phrase might tilt the intonation. Include both syllables in clear enunciation so that voice recognition can tokenize it as two syllables.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Labels"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker say ‘Labels’ in context (e.g., product labels) and repeat exactly with timing. - Minimal pairs: lay/bay vs led/lad to tune /eɪ/ vs /e/; then /-bəlz/ contrasts with /-buls/ in some dialects. - Rhythm: practice 2-beat rhythm in “LA-belz” then add weak second syllable. - Stress: keep primary stress on the first syllable, not spreading to the second. - Recording: record and compare to reference pronunciations to adjust lip rounding and voicing. - Context drills: say “the product labels” and “label designer” to practice transitions into phrases.
No related words found
