2 syllables: ob, tains. Stress on tains.
uhb-TAYNZ
/əˈbteɪnz/
obtains is pronounced uhb-TAYNZ (/əˈbteɪnz/). It has two syllables (ob-tains), with the stress on "tains". Obtains is a verb meaning to gains possession of or secures something, typically through effort or action. It is used in formal or technical writing and in some everyday contexts to indicate acquiring or achieving. The word appears in phrases like “obtains permission” or “obtains data.”.
Obtains is a verb meaning to gains possession of or secures something, typically through effort or action. It is used in formal or technical writing and in some everyday contexts to indicate acquiring or achieving. The word appears in phrases like “obtains permission” or “obtains data.”
"The researcher obtains data from multiple sources to validate the results."
"She finally obtains the necessary permits after weeks of negotiation."
"The company obtains approvals before proceeding with the project."
Pronounce it as /əbˈteɪnz/. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then place primary stress on the second syllable: /teɪnz/. The mouth opens for the /ə/ and /ɪ/ vowels; the /t/ is a light stop, followed by the long diphthong /eɪ/. End with /nz/, where the /n/ blends into a voiced-alveolar /z/ or a voiced-like /nz/ cluster in careful speech. Practice by saying “uh-TAYNZ,” ensuring the /z/ at the end is crisp.
Common errors: (1) stressing the first syllable (ob-TAYNS) instead of the second; (2) pronouncing the second syllable with a short /e/ like /bɔːˈteɪnz/; (3) leaving off the final /z/ or turning it into /s/. Correction: emphasize the second syllable with /teɪnz/ and finish clearly with /nz/. Keep the /n/ syllable light, then transition quickly into the /z/ for a clean ending. Practice with minimal pairs to fix stress and final consonant clarity.
In US/UK/AU, the core /əbˈteɪnz/ remains, but rhoticity affects preceding vowels slightly. US speakers maintain a rhotic /r/ only if it appears in context, which this word lacks; the main variation is vowel quality in /eɪ/ and the sonority of /nz/. Australian English tends to be a more centralized vowel color, but the /eɪ/ diphthong remains prominent. The final /nz/ cluster is consistently realized as a clear /nz/ with the nucleus /eɪ/ not reduced. Focus on the second syllable’s diphthong and final nasal+voiceless consonant combination in all accents.
Two main challenges: (a) the two-syllable stress pattern: secondary syllables can become reduced in fast speech, risking misplacing stress on the first syllable; (b) the /eɪ/ diphthong in the stressed syllable is a high-energy vowel requiring precise mouth positioning—jaw slightly dropped, tongue mid-high, lips spread. The final /nz/ cluster requires crisp articulation to avoid turning into a simple /n/ or /z/; keep the nasal and voiceless consonant distinct. With slow practice and clear target phrasing, you’ll maintain accurate stress and the correct diphthong.
Yes, the /t/ in obtains is typically a light or alveolar stop, but in rapid speech, some speakers may voice the transition slightly or flap the /t/ in casual phrases, though this is less common in careful speech. The primary cue is the transition from /b/ to /t/ and then to /nz/. If you’re aiming for precision, keep a crisp /t/ with a brief release before the /n/.
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Obtains comes from the verb obtain, which traces to the Latin obtinere, formed from ob- ‘toward, against’ and tenēre ‘to hold.’ The Middle English borrowings show a shift from Old French obtenir to its English form obtain, aligning with similar Latin-based words like obtainus in some Romance languages. The modern sense of “to gain possession or achieve” solidified in Early Modern English (16th–17th centuries) as commerce, law, and science popularized precise vocabulary for acquiring rights, permits, or data. The prefix ob- often carries a sense of movement toward a goal, while -tain is linked to holding or retaining. Over time, obtain broadened from physical possession to abstract acquisitions (information, permissions, results). First known uses appear in legal or administrative documents where obtaining permissions or evidence was essential, later permeating general prose and academic writing. The phonetic form aligns with the Latin roots, with the stress falling on the second syllable in modern usage: ob-TAINs, though in careful or formal speech you might emphasize the verb stem more clearly as ob-TAINs. Historically, the pronunciation has preserved the final -s as a voiceless /s/ in most dialects, but some rapid speech variants may elide or blur the final consonant slightly. Overall, obtain/obtains reflects a long-standing, formal register for acquiring or achieving through action, now common across domains.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "obtains" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "obtains"
-ins sounds
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