TEL-eks
/ˈtɛˌlɛks/
telex is pronounced TEL-eks (/ˈtɛˌlɛks/). Telex is a telecommunications service enabling the rapid, machine-readable transfer of typed messages over long distances via teleprinter networks. It uses a standardized code and network protocol to transmit text, typically without audio. Historically prominent in the 20th century, telex facilities still see niche use and are often discussed in historical or technical contexts rather than everyday communication.
Telex is a telecommunications service enabling the rapid, machine-readable transfer of typed messages over long distances via teleprinter networks. It uses a standardized code and network protocol to transmit text, typically without audio. Historically prominent in the 20th century, telex facilities still see niche use and are often discussed in historical or technical contexts rather than everyday communication.
- You might lengthen the second syllable or misplace primary stress, saying te-LEX or TEE-leks. Correct by practicing two-syllable cadence with strong initial stress and a short, crisp second syllable. - You may insert an extra vowel after /l/, producing /ˈtɛləks/ or /ˈtiːləks/. Fix by tightening the transition from /l/ to /ɛ/ and finishing with a clean /ks/. - Final cluster may be voiced or softened, turning /ks/ into /kz/ or /s/; practice with a quiet, unvoiced /k/ followed by /s/ to ensure a clean cluster.
"The newsroom still referenced telex codes before moving entirely to email."
"She filed a telex to confirm the banking transfer, using the standard telex protocol."
"The engineer explained how telex data was transmitted over the network’s redundant lines."
You say TEH-leks with two syllables. IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈteˌleks/. The first syllable carries primary stress, the e in the first vowel sounds like the ‘e’ in reveal, and the second syllable ends with /lɛks/ where the 'e' is short and the k-s cluster is crisp. Think of it as TEH-lex, where the l follows immediately after the T and E sounds like a short ‘e’ before the /l/ stop sequence.
Common mistakes include over-lengthening the second syllable or misplacing the stress as te-LEX (stress on the second syllable). Some learners insert an extra vowel, saying /ˈtiːləks/ or /təˈleks/. Correct these by keeping two clear syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈteˌleks/. Ensure the /t/ is released, the /e/ is a short vowel, and the final /ks/ is a clean consonant cluster without a following vowel.
Across accents, the core /ˈteˌleks/ remains, but vowel quality shifts: US tends to a slightly higher, tenser /eɪ/ vs. UK/AU closer to /e/; rhoticity isn’t a factor since /r/ isn’t involved. In all, the final cluster /ks/ is crisp in American and British speech; Australian listeners often maintain a short, clipped /e/ and may reduce the second syllable slightly. Overall, the primary stress on TE- remains consistent, with minor vowel and vowel-consonant timing differences.
The difficulty lies in the short, crisp final /ks/ cluster after a tense, concise /e/ vowel in two clean syllables. Learners often mispronounce it with a longer middle vowel or insert a vowel between the sibilants, like /ˈtiːlɛks/ or /ˈtɛlɛks/. Pay attention to keeping the first syllable stressed, the second syllable short, and finishing with a sharp /ks/ without adding vowels. Controlled mouth posture helps stabilize the transition from /le/ to /ks/.
A subtle but important detail is maintaining a tight, brisk transition between the /l/ and /ɛ/ sounds, so you get /le/ without inserting an extra vowel. Avoid trailing the final /ks/ with voicing; keep it voiceless and crisp. The mouth should be in a neutral, relaxed position for the /t/ release, then a quick, compact /e/ before the /l/ and the /ks/ release. This keeps the word compact and precise sounding, as in professional telecom contexts.
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- US: keep /e/ as a relatively close-mid vowel, maintain non-rhotic influence where applicable, ensure crisp /t/ release. - UK: keep vowel quality slightly more fronted, shorter overall duration, note non-rhotic tendencies; /t/ is released clearly and the /s/ is unvoiced at the end. - AU: often a slightly more centralized vowel in the second syllable; keep the final /ks/ crisp and the second vowel short. Refer to IPA /ˈteˌleks/ for all three varieties and adjust tongue height subtly per accent. - IPA references: US /ˈte leks/, UK /ˈte leks/, AU /ˈte leks/ (with subtle vowel shaping differences).
Telex derives from the fusion of tele- (Greek for ‘far’ or ‘at a distance’) with -lex (from ‘teleprinter’ and ‘telecommunication lexicon’), indicating a system for transmitting typed text over distance. The term ascended in the early 20th century as telephone and teletype networks evolved. Its roots connect to telegraph and telex-standardized communications, designed to squeeze textual messages into a machine-readable format for automated switching. By the mid-century, telex became a globally standardized service under ITU-T and related bodies, with a constellation of prefixes and terminologies. Though superseded in many contexts by email and fax, telex remains a historical reference point in telecommunications, illustrating early remote messaging protocols and the move toward networked, machine-to-machine communication. First known uses appear in technical journals and operator manuals from the 1930s–1950s, though practical widespread adoption occurred later, especially in the postwar era as international commerce grew and standardized partner networks proliferated.
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Words that rhyme with "telex"
-lex sounds
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