3 syllables: mi, cro, scopes. Stress on mi.
MEYE-kruh-skohps
/ˈmaɪkɹəˌskoʊps/
microscopes is pronounced MEYE-kruh-skohps (/ˈmaɪkɹəˌskoʊps/). It has three syllables (mi-cro-scopes), with the stress on "mi". Microscopes are optical instruments that magnify small objects, enabling detailed examination of structures invisible to the naked eye. They combine lenses and illumination to produce high-resolution images for scientific analysis, research, and education. The word itself refers to the plural form of microscope, indicating multiple devices used in labs or classrooms.
Microscopes are optical instruments that magnify small objects, enabling detailed examination of structures invisible to the naked eye. They combine lenses and illumination to produce high-resolution images for scientific analysis, research, and education. The word itself refers to the plural form of microscope, indicating multiple devices used in labs or classrooms.
"Scientists placed the prepared slides under the microscopes to observe cell structures."
"The school technician upgraded the lab with several new microscopes for biology classes."
"She adjusted the focus on the microscopes to reveal finer details of the sample."
Pronounce it as /ˈmaɪ.krəˌskoʊps/ (US) or /ˈmaɪ.krəˌskəʊps/ (UK). Primary stress on MI- and a secondary emphasis on -sko- before -ps. Start with the long /aɪ/ in MI, followed by a schwa-like /ə/ in -cro-, then /skoʊ/ or /skəʊ/ for the -scope portion, and finish with /ps/. Tip: keep the final consonant cluster tight with a quick, unreleased 'ps'.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying mi-cro-SCOPES or mi-CRO-scopes; place primary stress on MI- and secondary on -sko-. 2) Slurring the -scope into -scope-sound with a dull /p/ release; ensure a crisp /ps/ at the end. 3) Vowel reduction in -cro- (run with a clear /kro/ or /kroʊ/); avoid a lax /krə/ that makes it indistinct. Practice by breaking into /ˈmaɪ/ /ˈkrə/ /ˈskoʊps/ and blending gradually.
US tends to use /ˈmaɪ.krəˌskoʊps/ with a clearer /oʊ/ in -scope. UK often produces /ˈmaɪ.krəˌskəʊps/ with a slightly reduced second syllable and a longer /ə/ in -cro-, and a rounded /əʊ/ in -scope. Australian generally mirrors UK, but vowel qualities can be flatter, with a more centralized schwa in the second syllable and a concise final /ps/. Overall, rhoticity is present in US but varies in non-rhotic UK variants; AU typically non-rhotic or weakly rhotic.
The difficulty comes from the consonant cluster at the end (-ps) after a palatal-like /sko/ sequence, and the two consecutive syllables with stressed and unstressed patterns. The transition from /k/ to /r/ in -cro- and the vowel qualities in -scope require careful tongue shaping. The plural -s adds an extra voiceless /s/ at the end in careful speech, which can blur if you speak quickly. Focus on clear vowel-to-consonant transitions and final /ps/ articulation.
Yes. In microscopes, the 'c' after the 'mi' and 'cro' positions is part of a hard /k/ sound: /ˈmaɪ.krəˌskoʊps/. The 'c' in this word always represents /k/ in the American and British spellings, and it does not soften to /s/ here. The confusion often arises when 'c' appears before e, i, or y in other words; here, the phoneme remains /k/.
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Microscope comes from the Greek mikros (small) and scepsis (to look or to examine) combined with the later Latinized Greek -scope meaning instrument for viewing. The root mikros appears in many scientific terms to denote small scale, while -scopes from -skopein (to look or examine) indicate an instrument for viewing. The term was coined in the 17th century as optical technology evolved beyond simple magnifying glasses. Its meaning broadened from “an instrument to view small things” to a class of devices that include light microscopes and electron microscopes. Early adopters were scientists in anatomy, biology, and materials science who required higher magnification and resolution than naked-eye observation could provide. Over time, microscopes became essential lab workhorses, evolving from simple compound designs to advanced modalities (confocal, fluorescence, electron) that enable three-dimensional imaging, live-cell observation, and nanoscale exploration. The word entered common usage as lab infrastructure expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries, paralleling advances in metallurgy, medicine, and education. First known usage appears in scientific treatises of the late 1600s and early 1700s, with the plural form appearing as laboratories acquired multiple devices to support teaching and research.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "microscopes" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "microscopes"
-pes sounds
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