uhn-FOHLDZ
/əˈnfoʊldz/
unfolds is pronounced uhn-FOHLDZ (/əˈnfoʊldz/). Unfolds is the third-person singular present tense of the verb unfold, meaning to reveal or develop gradually. In use, it often describes events or narratives becoming clear over time. The word can also function metaphorically, as ideas or plans that become apparent or take shape. It is commonly found in narrative, descriptive, and analytical contexts.
Unfolds is the third-person singular present tense of the verb unfold, meaning to reveal or develop gradually. In use, it often describes events or narratives becoming clear over time. The word can also function metaphorically, as ideas or plans that become apparent or take shape. It is commonly found in narrative, descriptive, and analytical contexts.
"The plot unfolds as the detective uncovers new clues."
"Over the weeks, the project unfolds and the team gains clarity."
"Her story unfolds slowly, revealing layers of emotion."
Pronunciation: /ənˈfoʊldz/ in US and UK. Break it as un- (unstressed) + folds with primary stress on FOULD in the root, and a final /z/ sound. Mouth position: light initial schwa, then a strong wave of lips into /foʊl/ with the tongue ending at a high back position for 'oh' vowel, then voice the final /dz/ cluster smoothly. Listen for a clear /s/izing of the plural ending turned into /dz/. Audio reference: [Pronounce guide and dictionary audio].
Common errors: collapsing the /l/ into a light /l/ or misplacing the /d/ boundary, leading to /ʌnfoʊld/ without voicing on the final z. Another mistake is pronouncing /foʊldz/ with a hard /s/ instead of /dz/. Correction: keep the /l/ clear before the /d/, and voice the final affricate as /dz/ rather than /z/; ensure the /d/ is released into the /z/.
In American, final cluster often realized as /ldz/ with strong /d/ release followed by /z/. In UK, you may hear a slightly tighter /ɔːl/ realization, but the /dz/ is still present in careful speech. Australian tends to be closer to US with less vowel reduction in /oʊ/, but the final /dz/ remains. Ensure rhotics aren’t affecting the vowel preceding it in non-rhotic accents. IPA references: US /ənˈfoʊldz/, UK /ənˈfoʊldz/, AU /ənˈfoʊldz/ respectively.
The difficulty lies in the /ldz/ cluster after a stressed syllable and the preceding diphthong /oʊ/. Coordinating the alveolar /d/ release with the following voiceless/voiced transition requires precise timing; the /l/ before /d/ also demands a light but audible contact. Practicing the transition from /foʊl/ to /dz/ helps anchor the rhythm and prevents a lossy ending or a swallowed /z/.
There is no silent element in unfold s; all letters contribute to pronunciation. The initial 'un-' is pronounced with the schwa in the prefix (unstressed), the main stem syllable carries the primary stress on 'FOULD', and the final 's' is voiced to form /dz/.
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Unfolds derives from the verb unfold, which combines the prefix un- (a negating or reversing element) with old English folde or fold meaning ‘folded sheet or layer’ and later ‘to spread or open.’ The sense evolved through Middle English usage into “to spread open” physically, then metaphorically to reveal or develop. Early uses describe opening garments or sails, with the abstract sense of revealing information growing in the 16th–18th centuries as prose and poetry used unfold to denote discovery or progression. The word’s first documented forms appear in Middle English as onfolden or onfolden, later standardized as unfold, then the -s form for third-person singular in modern English. The semantic arc mirrors the movement from literal opening to figurative disclosure across domains like literature, science, and everyday speech. The prefix un- retains its core negation or reversal sense, while fold contributed the imagery of layers, coverings, or folds that must be opened to reveal content beneath. Over time, unfold acquired a robust, dynamic sense in narrative pacing and process-oriented descriptions, making it a common verb in storytelling and planning contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "unfolds"
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