2 syllables: Past, els. Stress on els.
pas-TELZ
/pæˈstɛlz/
Pastels is pronounced pas-TELZ (/pæˈstɛlz/). It has two syllables (Past-els), with the stress on "els". Pastels are colors that are soft, light, and subdued, typically created by mixing white with pigments. In art and fashion, the term also refers to a range of pale, gentle hues. As a plural noun, it denotes a category of colors or a collection of soft-colored items, such as pastels or pastel shades used in design.
nounPastels are colors that are soft, light, and subdued, typically created by mixing white with pigments. In art and fashion, the term also refers to a range of pale, gentle hues. As a plural noun, it denotes a category of colors or a collection of soft-colored items, such as pastels or pastel shades used in design.
"She painted the walls in pastel blues and pinks to create a calm bedroom."
"The fashion line features pastels—mint, lavender, and peach—for spring."
"The artist layered pastel tones to achieve a dreamy, airy composition."
Pastels is pronounced /ˈpæs.təlz/ in US and UK, with primary stress on the first syllable. The first syllable rhymes with “pass.” The second syllable is a schwa reduced to a quick, softer /təl/ sound (the t followed by a light schwa before a final z). For Australian ears, it’s similar: /ˈpæː.səlz/ with a slightly longer vowel in the first syllable. Listen for the subtle /s/ blend before the /t/ and the final /lz/.
Common mistakes: (1) Not stressing the first syllable and giving equal weight to second syllable, (2) omitting the /t/ sound and turning it into /ˈpæs.əlz/ or dropping the final /z/, (3) confusing the first vowel with a short /æ/ vs a longer /æː/ in non-rhotic accents. Correction: clearly articulate the /t/ before the final syllable, keep the /əl/ as a quick schwa + light l, and finish with a voiced /z/. Practice tempo: /ˈpæs.təlz/ with steady, light vowels.
In US English, /ˈpæs.təlz/ with rhotic r not present; the /æ/ in first syllable is short. UK English often has /ˈpɑː.stəlz/ or /ˈpæ s.təlz/ depending on dialect, with a longer first vowel and less rhotic influence. Australian tends to lengthen or reduce the first vowel slightly, yielding /ˈpæːs.təlz/ or /ˈpæ_s.təlz/ with a softer, clipped /t/ and a final clearly pronounced /z/. Across all, the stress remains on the first syllable; the middle syllable is a quick, unstressed schwa-like /ə/.
Pastels includes a rare sequence: the /st/ cluster across syllables with a light, almost silent first consonant in the second syllable; the transition from /s/ to /t/ to /l/ can blur in fast speech. The final /z/ is voiced and should be crisp, not devoiced. The tricky part is maintaining the /t/ before a constrained /əl/ and not letting the /t/ merge into an /l/ sound. Ensure a clean, distinct /t/ release and a small, unstressed schwa before the /l/.
Because it combines a tense stress pattern on the first syllable, a short /æ/ vowel that can drift toward an /æː/ in some accents, and a rapid sequence /təl/ leading into a voiced /z/. Learners must coordinate tongue position for /æ/ or /æː/ in warm-up and keep the /t/ release crisp, followed by a clear /əl/ before the /z/. Practicing slow, exaggerated enunciation helps ingrain the correct lip and tongue positions before speeding up.
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Pastel comes from the French pasteler, meaning ‘to paste’ or ‘paste’ and originally referred to a paste made of oil, chalk, and pigment used for decorative purposes. By the 18th century, pastel described the drawing medium itself (soft sticks of pigment bound with a binder) and the soft, pale colors produced by that medium. The noun use in English dates to around the late 18th century, aligning with the rise of pastel artwork and fashion palettes. The term broader meaning of “soft and pale” colors emerged later, in the 19th century, as designers and artists adopted “pastel shades” to denote light, low-saturation colors. The word’s evolution mirrors a shift from a material description (a pastel medium) to a category of aesthetic colors, encompassing hues like pale pink, baby blue, mint, and lavender used to evoke gentleness or delicacy in design.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pastels" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Pastels" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Pastels"
-els sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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