3 syllables: Ten, ta, cles. Stress on Ten.
TEN-tuh-kuhlz
/ˈtɛntəkəlz/
Tentacles is pronounced TEN-tuh-kuhlz (/ˈtɛntəkəlz/). It has three syllables (Ten-ta-cles), with the stress on "Ten". Tentacles is a plural noun referring to flexible, prehensile appendages of certain animals (notably octopuses) or metaphorically to any long, grasping projections. It denotes multiple elongated limbs capable of reaching, grasping, and manipulating objects. The term often conveys a sense of creepiness or complexity in description, highlighting mobility and reach.
nounTentacles is a plural noun referring to flexible, prehensile appendages of certain animals (notably octopuses) or metaphorically to any long, grasping projections. It denotes multiple elongated limbs capable of reaching, grasping, and manipulating objects. The term often conveys a sense of creepiness or complexity in description, highlighting mobility and reach.
"The octopus extended its tentacles to grasp the crab."
"The plant’s tentacles curled around the bait, pulling it closer."
"Researchers studied the tentacles’ sensory receptors."
Pronounce as /ˈtɛn.tə.kəlz/ in US; /ˈten.tɪ.kəz/ in UK; /ˈtɛn.tɪ.kəlz/ in Australian speech. The stress is on the first syllable. Start with a crisp /t/ followed by a short /e/ as in 'ten', then a schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable, and end with /kəlz/ in US and AU /kəlz/, with a softer /ɡ/ sound not present. Ensure the middle vowel is reduced in faster speech. You’ll hear the rhythm: a strong first beat, lighter middle, final -z sound.
Two common errors: (1) Misplacing stress on the second syllable; keep the primary stress on the first syllable /ˈ/ to avoid sounding like teN-TA-cales. (2) Over-articulating the middle vowel, producing /tɛnˈtɛ.kəlz/ or /tenˈteɪ.kəlz/. Instead, use a quick, reduced second syllable /tə/ or /tɪ/ and flow into the final /kəlz/. Practice by saying Ten-tuh-kulls quickly, then Ten-tuh-kəlz.ipa.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈtɛn.tə.kəlz/ with a clear /ə/ in the second syllable and final /z/. UK English often features a slightly more closed /ɪ/ or /ə/ in the second syllable, giving /ˈten.tɪ.kəz/ and final /z/ or /s/ depending on voicing. Australian tends to maintain /ˈtɛn.tɪ.kəlz/ with a clipped, rapid second syllable and a fully voiced final /lz/ or /lz/. The rhoticity is less influential here since tentacles isn’t a rhotic word, but vowel quality shifts subtly with accent.
Two core challenges: (a) the cluster of syllables with a short, unstressed middle syllable can blur in fast speech, leading to /ˈtɛn.tɪ.kəlz/ wobbling between /tə/ and /kəlz/. (b) Final consonant cluster /-lz/ can become a lighter /-lz/ or even devoiced to /-ls/ in rapid speech. Focus on a crisp /ˌkəlz/ ending, keep the first syllable strong, and avoid overemphasizing the middle vowel.
A unique question is whether to syllabify as ten-tac-ples in a casual mispronunciation; correct form is ten-ta-cles, with three distinct syllables: /ˈtɛn/ /tə/ /kəlz/. The middle syllable acts as a quick schwa or near-schwa; don’t elongate it. IPA details: US /ˈtɛn.tə.kəlz/, UK /ˈten.tɪ.kəz/, AU /ˈtɛntɪ.kəlz/ depending on speaker.
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Tentacle comes from the Latin tentaculum, a diminutive form of tengere, meaning to hold or touch. The Latin root tent- originates from tangere, to touch. The suffix -acle (late Latin -aculum) marks a diminutive or instrument-like meaning. In English, tentacle appeared in the 16th–17th centuries, initially describing slender, finger-like projections in zoological contexts. Early usage focused on anatomy, often in descriptions of cephalopods. Over time, tentacle broadened metaphorically to describe any long, grasping projection, and appears in science fiction to evoke otherworldly reach. The term carries connotations of flexibility, reach, and tactile sensing, underscoring both biological function and evocative, sometimes eerie, imagery.
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Words that rhyme with "Tentacles"
-als sounds
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