2 syllables: sca, ler. Stress on sca.
SKAY-luhr
/ˈskeɪlər/
scaler is pronounced SKAY-luhr (/ˈskeɪlər/). It has two syllables (sca-ler), with the stress on "sca". Scaler is a noun that can refer to a device or person that scales, climbs, or removes scale from surfaces. In tech contexts it denotes a tool that scales data or graphics, while in hardware it can be a device used for scaling or an agent that scales something up or down. The term also appears in biology and medicine to describe a device or agent that scales or removes biological scales. (2–4 sentences, 50–80 words).
Scaler is a noun that can refer to a device or person that scales, climbs, or removes scale from surfaces. In tech contexts it denotes a tool that scales data or graphics, while in hardware it can be a device used for scaling or an agent that scales something up or down. The term also appears in biology and medicine to describe a device or agent that scales or removes biological scales. (2–4 sentences, 50–80 words)
"The scaler in her lab automates the process of calibrating miniature gears."
"He used a vertebral scaler to remove mineral deposits from the pipe."
"The software module functions as a scaler, increasing the image resolution without losing aspect ratio."
You say it as /ˈskeɪ.lər/. The primary stress is on the first syllable, with the 'sca-' sounding like 'skay' (the /skeɪ/ diphthong), and the second syllable reduced to a schwa: /lər/. Mouth position: start with a loose jaw for the /skeɪ/, then relax the tongue for /lər/. You’ll want a smooth link between syllables: /ˈskeɪ.lər/.
Common mistakes: (1) Underestimating the first syllable and pronouncing it like 'scay-ler' with a weak integrity on /skeɪ/. (2) Turning the second syllable into a full vowel instead of a reduced /ər/ or /ər/ variant. Correction: emphasize the /skeɪ/ with a clear diphthong, then relax the second syllable to a light /lɚ/ or /lər/ depending on accent. Focus on a quick, light /l/ before a soft schwa.
US: /ˈskeɪ.lɚ/ with rhotic /ɚ/ in the final syllable. UK: /ˈskeɪ.lə/ or /ˈskeɪ.lə/ with non-rhotic final vowel, shorter /ə/. AU: similar to UK but with slightly broader vowel; /ˈskeɪ.lə/ and clearer, less centralized /ə/. In all cases, the initial /skeɪ/ is consistent; the main variation is the second syllable rhoticity and vowel quality.
Difficulties stem from the short, unstressed second syllable and the need to maintain a clean /l/ transition into a reduced vowel. The diphthong /skeɪ/ requires precise lip rounding and tongue position to avoid blending into /skir/ or /skeɜr/. The final syllable varies by accent, sometimes rhotic, sometimes a schwa, making consistent articulation across contexts challenging.
There is no silent letter in scaler. All letters represent sounds: s (voiceless alveolar fricative), c (soft /k/ before a front vowel), a (part of the /eɪ/ diphthong as part of the first syllable), l (lateral approximant), e (not pronounced as separate vowel in some accents; the second syllable ends with an /ər/ or /ə/ depending on dialect). The emphasis is on the first syllable.
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Scaler derives from scale, with the agentive suffix -er forming a noun that denotes a person or thing that performs the action of the verb or relates to the function of the root noun. The root word scale, from Old Norse skeil or Old French escale, reflects a ladder rung or degree of measurement; in modern English, scale also means to climb or to flatten in mathematics or graphics. The sense of something that scales or reduces size emerges as the agentive noun for tools or devices that either scale data (mathematical scaling) or scale surfaces (physical scaling). The word’s first attestations align with general engineering and anatomical contexts in the 19th and early 20th centuries as technical jargon, later widening into software and hardware applications. Overall, scaler has become a versatile term across domains, retaining the core idea of measurement, adjustment, or climbing.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "scaler" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "scaler" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "scaler"
-rer sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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