One syllable: launch.
/lɔntʃ/
Say it backLaunch is a verb meaning to start or set in motion something such as a project, product, or vehicle, or to propel something forward. It can also refer to the act of introducing a new product to the market. The term implies initiation, often with ceremony or significant momentum, and can be used in both technical and everyday contexts.
"We will launch the new software next quarter and announce it at the conference."
"The company plans to launch a satellite into orbit."
"She launched the paper airplane from the hilltop with a strong throw."
Launch is pronounced with a single syllable: /lɔːntʃ/ in UK, /lɔːntʃ/ US; in many American accents you may hear /lɑːntʃ/ or /lɔːntʃ/ depending on vowel shift. Start with an /l/ sound, then a back rounded vowel, and finish with /ntʃ/. The mouth begins with a neutral to slightly open jaw, tongue high mid for /ɔː/, and lips rounded, transitioning into the affricate /tʃ/ as in 'ch'. Stress is on the only syllable. Listen for the subtle length of the vowel before /n/ and the crisp /tʃ/ release.
Common mistakes include mispronouncing the vowel as a short /æ/ or /ɑ/ instead of the back rounded /ɔː/ and omitting the final /tʃ/ or turning it into /ʃ/. Some speakers also insert an extra vowel after /l/ (like 'la-unch') or reduce the /n/ before the /tʃ/ leading to /lɔːtʃ/ or /lɔːnʃ/. To correct: keep the /ɔː/ quality, ensure the tongue produces a light contact before the /t/, and snap into /tʃ/ without delaying the release.
In US English, /lɔːntʃ/ with rhotacized influences are minimal; some speakers may have a slightly lower back vowel. UK tends toward /lɔːntʃ/ with clearer non-rhotic tendency on stress and a pure /ɔː/. Australian might show a broader /ɒ/ quality in /ɔː/ and a softer /tʃ/ closure. Overall, the consonant cluster remains /l-ɔː-nt͡ʃ/ in all, but vowel quality and length vary by accent. IPA guides show US /lɔɹntʃ/ or /lɔntʃ/, UK /ˈlɔːntʃ/, AU /ˈlɔːntʃ/.
The challenge lies in the short, sharp onset with /l/ followed by a tense back rounded vowel /ɔː/ and the abrupt /ntʃ/ release. For non-native speakers, maintaining the back vowel before the affricate and avoiding inserting a second syllable can be hard. Practicing the lip rounding through the /ɔː/ and the crisp tongue tip contact before /t/ helps. Sound out slowly, then speed up while keeping the /tʃ/ release clean.
Is the 'n' in launch syllabic or a separate consonant? It is a separate consonant in most dialects: /lɔːn-tʃ/. The /n/ is not syllabic; you voice it as a regular /n/ before the /tʃ/ cluster. Ensure the /n/ is felt as a distinct legato element between the vowel and the final affricate, preventing merging into a single /nt͡ʃ/.
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Launch derives from Middle English lanchen, from Old French lancer, itself from Frankish *lehhan* meaning to throw. The original sense in English involved shooting or throwing something forward, later extending to the act of starting a voyage (to launch a ship) and then to initiating various endeavors. The metaphorical sense of beginning or initiating an undertaking developed as maritime and military terms related to launching ships or projectiles entered broader business and technology vocabulary. By the 16th century, launch was used in nautical contexts for boats and ships, then in the 19th and 20th centuries to describe product introductions, campaigns, and other initiatives. First known uses appear in maritime and military records, and by the Industrial Revolution it had entered common business language as a term for officially starting ventures, launches of products, and broadcasting of new services.
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Help others use "launch" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "launch" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "launch" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "launch"
-nch sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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