TEL-uh-skohps
/ˈtɛləˌskoʊps/
telescopes is pronounced TEL-uh-skohps (/ˈtɛləˌskoʊps/). Telescopes are optical instruments that collect and magnify light to reveal distant objects. They consist of a tube with lenses or mirrors that bend light to form an enlarged image. The term can also function as a verb, meaning to predict or view distant things, though this use is archaic. The noun emphasizes the device; the verb form emphasizes the action of looking or predicting.
Telescopes are optical instruments that collect and magnify light to reveal distant objects. They consist of a tube with lenses or mirrors that bend light to form an enlarged image. The term can also function as a verb, meaning to predict or view distant things, though this use is archaic. The noun emphasizes the device; the verb form emphasizes the action of looking or predicting.
"The astronomer adjusted the telescope to study the crater on the Moon."
"Her telescope revealed faint galaxies beyond the cluster."
"They debated whether to buy a new telescope or upgrade the mount for stargazing."
Pronounce as /təˈlɛskoʊps/ in US, /təˈlɛskəʊps/ in UK, and /təˈlɛskəʊps/ in Australian English. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: te-LE-scopes. Start with a schwa + t sound, then a light ‘e’ as in ‘let,’ then the stressed ‘les’ with a clear /ɛ/, a long ‘co’ vowel /koʊ/ or /koʊ/, and end with /ps/. Keep the final /ps/ cluster tight.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable or the final syllable, mispronouncing the middle vowel as /iː/ or /ɪ/, and mis-voicing the final /ps/ cluster. To correct: place primary stress on the second syllable: te-LE-scoes; use /ɛ/ for the middle vowel rather than /iː/; practice ending with a crisp /ps/ without a delay before the /s/.
In US and UK, the middle vowel in the unstressed syllables is reduced: US /təˈlɛskoʊps/, UK /təˈlɛskəʊps/. Australia tends to a slightly clearer middle vowel, with /ə/ in the second syllable and a more rounded /oʊ/ in the final stressed vowel; overall it remains /təˈlɛskəʊps/. The prominent stress on the second syllable persists across accents.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable rhythm, the stressed second syllable, and the final consonant cluster /ps/. The /ps/ combination can be tricky in rapid speech, causing a labored pause or elision. Also, the /ɛ/ vs /ə/ distinction in the second and third syllables challenges speakers who reduce vowels in unstressed positions.
There are no silent letters in telescopes, but the second syllable bears the main stress, and the final /ps/ requires precise lip and tongue contact to avoid a voiceless crash or an over-epenthetic vowel. Paying attention to the transition from /lə/ to /s/ helps ensure a clean, crisp ending.
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Telescopes derives from the Greek roots tele- meaning ‘far’ and skopein meaning ‘to look or see’. The word was coined in the early 17th century as optical technologies were rapidly developing. First known usage appeared around 1610–1614 in Dutch and Italian scientific writings as scientists described devices for distant viewing. The influential physicist and astronomer Galileo popularized refracting telescopes in Europe, shaping the common understanding of the term. Over time, the word broadened to include instruments that magnify not just stars but any distant scene, and, less commonly, the verb form telescopes as a metaphor for the intensification or elongation of events, though the noun remains predominant in modern usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "telescopes" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "telescopes" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "telescopes"
-pes sounds
-ope sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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