2 syllables: Re, hearse. Stress on hearse.
ree-HURS
/ɹiˈhɝs/
Rehearse is pronounced ree-HURS (/ɹiˈhɝs/). It has two syllables (Re-hearse), with the stress on "hearse". Rehearse is a verb meaning to practice a performance or presentation in preparation for a public showing, often by repeating lines or actions. It involves careful timing, delivery, and pacing to ensure smooth execution. The term is commonly used in theater, film, music, and public speaking contexts to refine performance before an actual event.
verbRehearse is a verb meaning to practice a performance or presentation in preparation for a public showing, often by repeating lines or actions. It involves careful timing, delivery, and pacing to ensure smooth execution. The term is commonly used in theater, film, music, and public speaking contexts to refine performance before an actual event.
"Before the play opens, the actors will rehearse their entrances and exits."
"The coach asked the team to rehearse the exact sequence of plays for the championship."
"She rehearsed her speech aloud several times to manage nerves and get the cadence right."
Pronounce as /rɪˈhɜːrs/ in US English or /rɪˈhɜːs/ in UK English, with primary stress on the second syllable. Start with a short /r/ sound, then a quick /ɪ/ vowel, followed by a stressed /ˈhɜːr/ (US) or /ˈhɜː/ (UK), and end with /s/ or /rs/ depending on final consonant cluster. Tip: keep the tongue high, lips relaxed, and avoid adding extra syllables. Audio reference: [link to audio resource].
Common errors include misplacing the stress on the first syllable (re-HEARSE instead of re-hearse) and either pronouncing the final /r/ too strongly in non-rhotic accents or omitting it in rhotic ones. Another pitfall is reducing the /ɜː/ to a schwa /ə/ in fast speech. Correction: fix stress on the second syllable, ensure the /ɜː/ or /ɜː/ vowel remains prominent, and keep the final /s/ clear. Practice with a slow, repeated drill.”
In US English, /r/ is pronounced with a rhotic r and the /ɜːr/ sequence is pronounced; in UK English, non-rhotic tendencies may reduce the /r/ unless followed by a vowel, leading to a subtler /ɜː/ and a lighter /r/ sound. Australian English tends to be rhotic but with a more centralized /ɜː/ and a slightly broader diphthong in some speakers. Overall: stress on the second syllable, but rhoticity and vowel quality vary, affecting the perceived vowel duration and consonant clarity.
The challenge lies in the /ɪ/ vs /ɪə/ or /ɜː/ vowel quality within the stressed second syllable and the trailing /s/ blend, especially in quick speech. Non-native speakers often shorten the vowel or merge /h/ with adjacent sounds, altering the iconic /rɪˈhɜːrs/ pattern. Focus on maintaining the clear /ɜː/ vowel and distinctive /r/ before the final /s/.
A distinctive feature is the strong stress shift to the second syllable and the /h/ following the vowel cluster, which gives the word its characteristic break: re-HEARSE. In many dialects, the /r/ becomes less prominent before a consonant in non-rhotic contexts, but the /r/ is maintained in rhotic accents. Paying careful attention to the /ˈhɜːr/ (US) vs /ˈhɜːs/ (UK) can improve clarity.
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Rehearse comes from the Old French reheuser, influenced by Latin repetere meaning to repeat or do again. The modern English form emerged in the early 16th century, initially tied to agricultural contexts of rehearsing livestock or rehearsing tasks; by the late 16th to 17th centuries it shifted toward the performing arts sense of repeating lines or actions to prepare for a performance. The word's base rehearse blends re- (again) with hears or rehears, echoing the idea of hearing and repeating. First known use attested in early modern English around 1500s, with the theater sense becoming prominent as stage practices evolved. Over time, the semantic field broadened from simply repeating to refining through practice, including spoken, musical, and choreographed performances. In contemporary usage, it firmly denotes deliberate, structured practice aimed at achieving polished, timed delivery, often with feedback loops and rehearsal schedules.
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Words that rhyme with "Rehearse"
-rse sounds
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