2 syllables: la, sers. Stress on la.
/ˈleɪzɚz/
Say it backLasers refers to devices that emit light through optical amplification based on stimulated emission of radiation. In common usage, the plural noun laser refers to multiple such devices, each emitting coherent, monochromatic light. The term is widely used across science, medicine, and industry, and is often encountered in contexts from scientific discussion to everyday technology. The word is widely integrated into professional vocabularies and media.
"The lab installed several high-precision lasers for spectroscopy work."
"She used a laser pointer to highlight the presentation key points."
"Industrial cutting lasers require careful calibration and safety protocols."
US: /ˈleɪ.zərz/; UK/AU: /ˈleɪ.zəz/. Emphasize the first syllable with a clear /eɪ/ diphthong, then an unstressed second syllable that shifts from a rhotacized vowel in US to a reduced schwa in UK/AU. Start with a relaxed jaw, raise the tongue for /eɪ/, then smoothly transition to /zər/ or /zəz/ depending on accent. Practice by saying ‘lay’ plus a quick, light ‘z’ sound followed by a relaxed ‘erz’ fragment. You’ll hear a crisp onset on the first syllable and a voiced z in the second, with subtle vowel reduction in non-rhotic accents.
Two common errors: (1) turning the second syllable into /læs/ or /lɑː/ instead of a schwa; keep it light with /zərz/ or /zəz/. (2) Misplacing voicing on the final /z/ sounds, producing /s/ or an unvoiced /z/; ensure the final consonant is fully voiced /z/. Correct by practicing minimal pairs: /ˈleɪ.zərz/ vs /ˈleɪ.zəz/ and focusing on the vibration in the final /z/. Lip position should stay relaxed; your tongue tip lightly taps the alveolar ridge for the /z/ and then clears forward for the second /z/.
US: rhotic with a clear /ɚ/ in the second syllable: /ˈleɪ.zɚz/. UK/AU: non-rhotic or reduced final vowel: /ˈleɪ.zəz/; the second syllable often ends with a schwa or a light /zə/. R sound strength is the main difference; US features a rhotic /ɚ/ while UK/AU may reduce to /ə/ in rapid speech. Vowel quality is otherwise similar in /eɪ/ in the first syllable. Aim for a brisk, precise onset and a light, syllabic finale in non-rhotic varieties.
The challenge lies in the quick transition from the diphthong /eɪ/ to the alveolar fricative /z/ and then the second syllable’s vowel played as a reduced schwa with a voiced /z/. The cluster /zərz/ or /zəz/ requires finger-light contact and steady voicing across two syllables without elongation. Mastery comes from controlled airflow and consistent voicing, plus practicing with minimal pairs to stabilize the vowel in the second syllable across accents.
The primary stress is on the first syllable: LA-sers. This helps the syllable onset carry the energy necessary to produce a crisp /ˈleɪ/ before the lighter second syllable. In rapid speech, you should still maintain that initial stress while allowing the second syllable to relax toward /zərz/ or /zəz/. This stress placement contrasts with some longer words where two syllables bear stress; here, keep the second syllable noticeably lighter.
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US: rhotic /ɹ/ in /zɚz/; UK/AU: non-rhotic, schwa in second syllable; vowels: /eɪ/ in first syllable; consonants: clear /z/ sounds; mouth: relaxed jaw, slightly raised tongue for /eɪ/, tip near alveolar ridge for /z/; IPA notes: US /ˈleɪ.zɚz/; UK/AU /ˈleɪ.zəz/.
The term laser is an acronym formed from Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It was coined in the 1950s as scientists theorized devices that could produce highly concentrated, coherent light. The concept builds on Einstein’s 1917 explanation of stimulated emission, but the practical laser first emerged in the 1960s with Theodore Maiman’s ruby laser providing the first working prototype. Since then, multiple types of lasers have appeared—gas lasers, solid-state lasers, dye lasers, and semiconductor diode lasers—each leveraging stimulated emission in different media. The word ‘laser’ quickly entered general scientific and popular vocabularies and became a ubiquitous term across engineering, medicine, consumer electronics, and defense sectors. The plural form lasers began to appear naturally in technical writing when referencing multiple devices or uses, and became standard in both professional and public discourse by the late 20th century. The origin reflects rapid advancement in photonics and a shift toward precision light-based technologies that enable cutting, imaging, sensing, and communication across industries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "lasers" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "lasers"
-ers sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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