One syllable: labs.
/læbz/
Say it backLabs is the plural of lab, referring to scientific laboratories or laboratory facilities. In everyday use it can describe multiple lab spaces, either as a noun or attributively (labs equipment, labs personnel). The term is common in science, research, and educational contexts, often appearing with plural verbs or determiners. It’s a concise, field-specific plural noun used in professional or academic discourse.
"The researchers collected samples from the labs to run the analysis."
"Several labs around the city collaborate on the new biotech project."
"The labs’ safety protocols were updated after the inspection."
Labs is pronounced /læbz/ in US and AU, with the initial /l/, a short open-front vowel /æ/ as in 'cat,' followed by the voiced /b/ and final /z/. In UK English, you’ll hear a similar vowel quality but may notice a slightly less rounded /ɑ/ or a crisper /z/. The word is a single syllable with stress on the entire word. Listen for the voiced ending /z/ rather than a voiceless /s/.
Common errors include pronouncing the vowel as /e/ or /ɪ/, producing /lebz/ or /laz/; or voicelessly ending as /s/ (labs without voice). To correct: keep the final consonant as a voiced /z/, which requires vocal fold vibration in the /z/; ensure the vowel is /æ/ and not a lax /ə/ or /ɪ/. Practice with minimal pairs like /læbz/ vs /læbs/ (non-words) to feel the voice onset of /z/.
In US and AU, /læbz/ with a clearly voiced /z/ at the end; rhotic influence is minimal on the word itself. In some UK variants, you may perceive a slightly stronger or weaker final sibilant depending on the following word; many speakers preserve /z/ but with subtle frication differences. AU tends to be more vowel-centralization after /l/ and can show minor differences in the length of the preceding vowel in rapid speech. Overall, /læbz/ remains stable across accents.
The challenge lies in maintaining a crisp, voiced final /z/ after a short lax vowel /æ/, without slipping into an /s/ or an unvoiced /t/ variant. Beginners sometimes shorten the vowel or inhale before voicing the /z/, causing a devoiced ending. The key is steady voicing on /z/, keeping the /æ/ posture relaxed, and avoiding flapping or tapping that could blur the final consonant. Practice with words like ‘tabs’ and ‘slabs’ to feel the /bz/ cluster.
Unique to labs is the /bz/ ending cluster, combining a voiced bilabial stop /b/ with a voiced alveolar fricative /z/. It requires steady voicing across both phonemes without a breathy break between them. The mouth transitions quickly from a closed /b/ to a relaxed, teeth-facing /z/ with slight tongue blade proximity to the alveolar ridge. This cluster is sensitive to voicing maintenance in connected speech, especially after another voiced sound.
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Labs originates as an abbreviation for laboratories, from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, rooted in scientific language. The word laboratory comes from Latin laboratory, itself from laboratorio ‘workshop’ or ‘place of labor,’ linked to labor (work) and the suffix -ator or -orium. The abbreviation lab emerged as a clipped form in English to denote a place where experiments and analyses occur. Over time, labs gained specialized meaning in science and industry while remaining a generic plural noun referring to multiple lab spaces or equipment. The plural form labs commonly appears in professional writing and casual speech alike, maintaining the sense of collective spaces rather than a single institution. First known uses appear in technical publications from the early 1900s when laboratories became central to scientific work, and the abbreviation lab was widely adopted in both American and British usage, later becoming a staple in everyday scientific vernacular.
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Help others use "labs" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "labs" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "labs" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "labs"
-abs sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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