ree-PLAYS
/ˌɹiˈpleɪs/
replace is pronounced ree-PLAYS (/ˌɹiˈpleɪs/). Replace is a verb meaning to take the place of something or someone, or to substitute one thing for another. It can also mean to restore something to a former state. In everyday use, it often appears in contexts like repairs, substitutions, or updates. The word carries a sense of changeover, whether physical, functional, or symbolic, and is common in both formal and informal discourse.
Replace is a verb meaning to take the place of something or someone, or to substitute one thing for another. It can also mean to restore something to a former state. In everyday use, it often appears in contexts like repairs, substitutions, or updates. The word carries a sense of changeover, whether physical, functional, or symbolic, and is common in both formal and informal discourse.
- You may over-reduce the first syllable, saying /rɪ/ too quickly or as /ri/; ensure a distinct /ɪ/ followed by a crisp secondary beat into /pleɪs/. - The second syllable often lacks the full /eɪ/ diphthong because of hurried speech; practice by isolating /pleɪs/ and then merging with /rɪ/. - Final /s/ may be devoiced or mis-timed; ensure a soft but audible /s/ without trailing voicing. - In connected speech, the word can sound like “rip-lease” if the /l/ and /p/ blend poorly; work on the /l/ taking a light touch before the /p/ release. - Ensure you don’t add an extra consonant after /s/ in fast speech; stop after /s/.
"We need to replace the broken fuse before the circuit trips."
"The old chair was replaced with a newer model."
"They decided to replace the battery to restore the device’s performance."
You pronounce it as /rɪˈpleɪs/ in General American and /rɪˈpleɪs/ in British English. The stress falls on the second syllable: re-PLACE. The first syllable is a short, lax “ri” and leads into the long “place” vowel. Mouth positioning: start with a relaxed tongue blade, lift the tip for the rhotic /r/, then glide into the long /eɪ/ vowel as in “ay” in “say,” and finally close with /s/. For audio references, compare with standard dictionaries or pronunciation tools that provide native speaker playback.
Two frequent errors: 1) Misplacing the stress on the first syllable, saying /ˈriːpleɪs/ or /ˈrɪplɛs/. 2) Slurring the vowel into a short /e/ or /ɪ/ so it sounds like /rɪples/ rather than /rɪˈpleɪs/. Correction: keep a clear secondary stress pattern with /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a distinct /eɪ/ in the second, then end with /s/. Practice by isolating the second syllable: “PLACE” as in “play” with a long /eɪ/ and confirm that the final /s/ is crisp.
In US, the /ɪ/ in the first syllable is lax, and /ˈpleɪs/ is a clear long vowel before /s/. In UK, /r/ is often non-rhotic before vowels in some dialects, giving a softer initial consonant and maintaining /ˈpleɪs/ with a crisp /eɪ/. In Australian English, /r/ is typically non-rhotic as well, and vowel quality around /eɪ/ can be slightly more centralized. Across all, the stress remains on the second syllable. IPA remains /rɪˈpleɪs/ (US/UK/AU).
The difficulty comes from the combination of a reduced first syllable /rɪ/ leading into a strong /ˈpleɪs/ with a long diphthong /eɪ/. Learners often misplace stress, reduce the second syllable, or misarticulate the /r/ and /s/ at the end. Focus on ensuring a clean onset of /r/ plus the diphthong /eɪ/ in the second syllable, and keep the final /s/ crisp without adding extra voicing. IPA cues and slow practice help stabilize the flow.
The unique nuance is the stress pattern and the glide into the diphthong /eɪ/ from a small, quick /ɪ/ in the first syllable. This creates a sharp contrast between /ɪ/ and /eɪ/ that is essential for a natural cadence. Pay attention to maintaining a light, quick /r/ onset and avoiding overemphasis of the first syllable; allow the second syllable’s /eɪ/ to dominate phonetically while keeping a crisp final /s/.
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- US: emphasize rhotic /r/ initial and keep /eɪ/ as a clear diphthong; mild stress on second syllable, but ensure a strong, audible /pleɪs/. - UK: non-rhotic or lightly rhotic; maintain the /ɪ/ in the first syllable and crisp /eɪ/ in second; avoid excessive vowel coloring. - AU: similar to US/UK but with a slightly broader vowel space; let /eɪ/ glide smoothly and keep the final /s/ crisp. IPA: US/UK/AU /rɪˈpleɪs/.
Replace comes from Middle English replacen, from Old French repousier, from re- (back, again) + placer (to place). The form repousier evolved into releparate verb senses in Early Modern English, shifting to replace in the 16th century. The core idea was to place again or substitute, which extended to figurative senses like replacing someone’s role or an object’s function. Early usage often appeared in legal and administrative contexts about reinstatement or reinstating property. Over time, the word broadened to include both physical substitution and temporary replacements (e.g., replacing a part) and then more abstract senses like replacing old ideas with new ones. First known uses appear in printed English in the 1500s, with the sense of putting back in place accessible through religious and commercial texts, and by the 1600s it was common in general prose to indicate substitution or restoration.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "replace" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "replace"
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