Peripherals refers to ancillary devices that connect to a computer or system to extend its functionality (e.g., keyboards, mice, printers, external drives). It is a plural noun used to describe such devices collectively; the term covers input, output, and storage peripherals. In tech contexts, it contrasts with the computer proper, which performs core processing.
"The technician recommended upgrading the peripherals to improve overall performance."
"We need to test all peripherals before the conference to ensure nothing fails."
"Peripherals like printers and scanners are essential for a complete workstation."
"The conference room came equipped with wireless peripherals for quick presentations."
Peripherals comes from the French peripheral meaning “outside, around,” derived from peri- ‘around’ + -pheral (from Greek -pheral, related to bearing). The term entered technical English in the mid-20th century as computing expanded beyond the central processor. Initially, “peripheral devices” described any equipment not integral to the computer but connected externally. Over time, usage shortened to “peripherals” in both spoken and written form, retaining its sense of external support equipment that augments core capabilities. The word share a root with peripheral, which appears in anatomy and geography to describe outer structures. The plural form peripherals typically collocates with tech and IT contexts: peripherals, peripheral devices, peripheral connections. First known uses appear in mid-1900s engineering literature, aligning with the rapid growth of mainframe and later personal computers where external devices became standard components of office and lab setups.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Peripherals" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Peripherals"
-ies sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /pəˈrɪfərəlz/. The primary stress sits on the second syllable, ‘rif’. Break it into pe- (unstressed),-RI- (stressed),-fer- (schwa-ruled), -als (plural ending). Start with a relaxed 'p' followed by a short schwa, then a clear ‘ri’ as in rid, a weak ‘f’ before ‘ər’ and finish with ‘əlz’ where the second syllable gets the main emphasis. Listen to native speech for cadence, but the core pattern is /pəˈrɪ-fə-rəlz/.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (trying to stress the first or third syllable) or flattening the central vowels into a flat /ɪ/ sound. Some say /pə-‘ri-fə-relz/ with a reduced second vowel, or pronounce the final ‘als’ as /əlz/ instead of /ərəlz/. A fix is to practice the exact syllable rhythm: /pə-ˈrɪ-fə-rəlz/ with a crisp /r/ and a full, unstressed final schwa before the plural /-lz/.
Across US, UK, and AU, the word keeps /pəˈrɪfərəlz/ with slight vowel shifts: US tends toward a rhotacized /ɚ/ in ‘-er-’ and a more pronounced ‘r’; UK often has a shorter, crisper /ə/ and non-rhotic tendency in careful speech though many say /-ər-/; AU tends to a similar US pattern with slightly broader vowels and softer rhotics in casual speech. Overall, the nucleus /ɪ/ and coda /əlz/ remain stable, while rhotic realization varies.
Two challenges: the /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable can be ambiguous between a short /ɪ/ and a schwa-like sound, and the sequence /ˈrɪ-fə-rəl/ requires precise linking to avoid a mispronounced add-on /-əlz/. The final /əlz/ cluster can blur into /əlz/ or /ərəlz/ in fast speech. Practice with slow tempo, emphasizing the second syllable, then blend to natural speed while keeping the /r/ clear and avoiding a tense jaw.
Peripherals is fully phonetic; all letters contribute to sounds. There are no silent letters. The item where learners sometimes drop is the schwa in the second and third syllables. Ensure you vocalize the /ə/ in the first and third syllables to keep the rhythm intact and avoid truncating the word.
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