4 syllables: mem, or, i, als. Stress on or.
muh-MAW-ree-uhlz
/məˈmɔɹiəlz/
memorials is pronounced muh-MAW-ree-uhlz (/məˈmɔɹiəlz/). It has four syllables (mem-or-i-als), with the stress on "or". Memorials are monuments or expressions of remembrance dedicated to people or events. The word functions as a plural noun referring to multiple memorials, or as a metaphor for acts or structures that commemorate. It carries formal connotations and is common in historical, cultural, or commemorative contexts.
Memorials are monuments or expressions of remembrance dedicated to people or events. The word functions as a plural noun referring to multiple memorials, or as a metaphor for acts or structures that commemorate. It carries formal connotations and is common in historical, cultural, or commemorative contexts.
"The city erected several memorials to honor veterans."
"Family members laid flowers at the memorials after the ceremony."
"The museum features memorials from different eras of the war."
Pronounce as me-MOR-i-als with primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌmɛməriˈɔːlz/ US, /ˌmemərɪˈɔːlz/ UK. Start with /m/ then /ɛ/ as in ‘bed’, followed by a schwa-less /mɛ/ quickly into /ˈɔːl/ as in ‘or’ stretched slightly, and end with /z/ or /lz/ depending on the following sound. The syllable break is me-MOR-i-als. Keep the vovel in the second syllable slightly longer than the first and ensure the final -als is produced as /-əlz/. Audio references: consider listening to Forvo or YouGlish for speaker variation.
Two frequent errors: misplacing the stress, saying me-MOR-i-als with the stress on the first or third syllable; mispronouncing the final /ɔːlz/ as /ɔlz/ or /ɒlz/ in non-rhotic accents. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable (mor), and articulate the final cluster as /-ɔːlz/ with a clear /l/ before the /z/; in non-rhotic dialects, ensure the /ɔː/ is still audible before the /l/. Practicing with minimal pairs like memorial vs remembrance can help calibrate the rhythm.
In US English, stress on mor-: /ˌmɛməriˈɔːlz/, with rhotic r and clear /ɔː/ before -lz. In UK English, non-rhotic tendencies mean the /r/ is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel; the sequence is /ˌmemərɪˈɔːlz/ with less pronounced r, and the vowel quality in /ɪ/ is shorter. In Australian English, vowel quality is often broader, with /ɔː/ similar to UK, but vowels may be more centralized and the /r/ remains non-rhotic. The overall rhythm remains four syllables with the stress on the second syllable and the final -als pronounced as /-əlz/.
Difficulties stem from four-syllable length, secondary vowel reductions, and the late primary stress on the second syllable. The transition from /mɛm/ to /əri/ to /ɔːlz/ requires clear syllable boundaries and the /l/ before the final /z/ to avoid turning into /-oz/ or /-olz/. The risk is running the sounds together or shifting the /ɔː/ into a shorter /ɔ/ in fast speech. Practicing the exact vowel timbres and steady rhythm helps maintain accuracy.
A unique aspect is the mid-word /ɪ/ or /i/ shift in some speakers: the sequence me-MOR-i-als can sound like /ˌmɛməriˈɑːlz/ in some dialects. Pay attention to the /ɔː/ vowel before the final /lz/ cluster in all dialects, and keep a distinct second syllable stress to avoid flattening into /ˌmɛmˈɔːlz/. This helps you sound clear and formal when discussing commemorative sites.
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Memorials comes from the adjective memorial, from the Old French memorie, from Latin memoria ‘memory, recollection’. The suffix -al forms nouns indicating ‘connected with’ or ‘place for’ the base word, giving memorials the sense of things that preserve memory. The root memoria is linked to the Latin verb memori, “to remember.” In English, memorial first appeared in the late Middle Ages, with early uses around commemorative monuments and rites. Over time, the plural memorials emerged to denote multiple monuments or acts of remembrance, expanding to include museums, plaques, ritual sites, and symbolic structures. The term retains formal usage in history, politics, and cultural discourse, often paired with events like wars, tragedies, or national days of remembrance. Public institutions, veterans’ organizations, and cultural sites frequently reference “memorials” in descriptions, plaques, and guides, reinforcing its status as a word tied to collective memory and commemoration.
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Words that rhyme with "memorials"
-als sounds
-els sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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