TOH-tuhlz
/ˈtoʊtəlz/
totals is pronounced TOH-tuhlz (/ˈtoʊtəlz/). Totals is a plural noun or verb form meaning the overall sum or adds up to a total. In finance or statistics it denotes the final amount after summing items. It can also function as a verb (third-person singular: totals) meaning to add up to a final sum. The term is neutral to moderately formal and common in academic, business, and everyday calculation contexts.
Totals is a plural noun or verb form meaning the overall sum or adds up to a total. In finance or statistics it denotes the final amount after summing items. It can also function as a verb (third-person singular: totals) meaning to add up to a final sum. The term is neutral to moderately formal and common in academic, business, and everyday calculation contexts.
"The totals for each department were announced after the audit."
"She tallies the receipts and the grand total is $2,480."
"The scores are totaled at the end of the game to determine the winner."
Pronounce it as TOH-tuhlz in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈtoʊ.təlz/. In fast speech, the second syllable can reduce to a quick schwa: /ˈtoʊ.təlz/. In UK and AU, you’ll typically hear /ˈtəʊ.lz/ for the plural noun, with a lighter, shorter first vowel and a clearly audible final -lz. When used as a verb (totals), stress often shifts to the second syllable: to-TALS /təˈtɔːlz/ in careful speech, but many speakers say /təˈtæls/ or /təˈtɔːlz/ depending on region.
Common errors include pronouncing the second syllable as a full /l/ with a strong schwa in some accents, producing /ˈtoˌtælz/ instead of /ˈtoʊ.təlz/. Another mistake is merging the second and third sounds into a single rapid vowel, leading to /ˈtoʊtɫz/ or /ˈtoʊdəlz/. To correct: clearly articulate /t/ + /oʊ/ in the first syllable, then release a short /ə/ or /ɪ/ before /lz/; avoid an extra vowel between /t/ and /l/. Practicing with minimal pairs like “tote” vs. “totals” helps, and ensure you don’t add an extra syllable.
In US English, /ˈtoʊ.təlz/ with a clear /oʊ/ in the first syllable and a schwa or syllabic /əl/ in the second. In many UK varieties, the first vowel tends to be closer to /əʊ/ and the final /z/ is voiced; you may hear /ˈtəʊ.lɪz/ or /ˈtəʊ.təlz/ depending on regional rhoticity and pace. In Australian English, expect a more centralized first vowel, often /ˈtəʊ.lɐːz/ or /ˈtəʊ.təlz/ with a relaxed second syllable and non-rhotic tendencies in broad speech. Across all, the critical factor is maintaining the /t/ onset, a light second syllable, and the final voiced /z/.
The difficulty lies in balancing the two syllables quickly while preserving a clear /t/ onset and a subtle /əl/ sequence before the final /z/. The second syllable often reduces to a light schwa or a syllabic l, which can blur in rapid speech. Another challenge is avoiding an over-rolled or misarticulated /t/ that blends with the /l/ and /z/. Practitioners should focus on segmenting the word into [toʊ] + [təl] + [z], practicing with controlled tempo before speeding up.
Is the second syllable more /təl/ or /təlz/ in natural speech, and does the vowel quality shift in rapid context?
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Totals derives from the plural noun total, itself from Old French tote(l) (as in whole, whole amount) from Latin totus meaning whole or entire. The sense of "the whole amount" emerged in English in the late Middle English period as accounting and arithmetic terms grew in formal use. The verb form totals, third-person singular, developed as a natural extension in English to describe the action of summing items to reach the total. Early appearances in algebraic and bookkeeping texts used totals to indicate the final sum of a set of items; by the 19th and 20th centuries, totals became standard in business, statistics, and sports reporting. The semantic drift from noun to verb reflects the common English pattern of verbing nouns to express occurrence or action around the noun’s concept. First known uses appear in 15th- to 17th-century records of accounting shorthand, with broader dictionary attestations in the 18th and 19th centuries as formal arithmetic vocabulary expanded.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "totals" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "totals"
-re) sounds
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