2 syllables: work, piece. Stress on work.
WURRK-pees
/ˈwɜrkˌpiːs/
workpiece is pronounced WURRK-pees (/ˈwɜrkˌpiːs/). It has two syllables (work-piece), with the stress on "work". A finished or partially finished component used in manufacturing, machining, or assembly processes. In general terms, it refers to a part produced from raw stock that will undergo additional operations to achieve final dimensions and surface finish. The term is common in engineering and production contexts and often appears in discussions of fabrication workflows and quality control.
A finished or partially finished component used in manufacturing, machining, or assembly processes. In general terms, it refers to a part produced from raw stock that will undergo additional operations to achieve final dimensions and surface finish. The term is common in engineering and production contexts and often appears in discussions of fabrication workflows and quality control.
- You might flatten the first syllable vowel to a lax /ɪ/ or schwa, producing /ˈwɪrkspis/. Aim for the mid-back /ɜː/ or /ɜ/ quality. - You may run the /rk/ cluster into a single rough consonant; practice isolating /rk/ as a single, quick stop sequence: /ɜrk/. - The second syllable often gets reduced; ensure you sustain the /iː/ rather than a short /ɪ/ or /ɪə/. Try saying WORK-PEES slowly, then smoothly escalate speed while preserving the two distinct syllables.
"The engineer inspected the workpiece for surface defects before continuing with milling."
"A jig was used to hold the workpiece steady during drilling."
"The shop generated a batch of identical workpieces for the assembly line."
Pronounce as two syllables: /ˈwɜrkˌpiːs/ in US and UK, with the first syllable rhotacized and the second syllable a long ee sound. Break it into WORK- piece, with the /ɜː/ or /ɜ/ vowel in the first syllable and a clear /iː/ in the second. US approximate: WURK-PEES; UK and AU are similar, with a slightly shorter /ɜː/ in some accents. Be sure to stress the first syllable: /ˈwɜrkˌpiːs/.
Common errors: 1) Slurring the two syllables into /ˈwɜrkpiːs/ without a separate second syllable; 2) Mispronouncing the /ɜː/ or /ɜ/ as a short /ɪ/ or /ə/; 3) Not differentiating /piːs/ from /pɪs/. Correction: hold a distinct /ɜː/ (or /ɜ/) in the first syllable, then a long /iː/ in the second; ensure the /s/ at the end is sibilant, not a voiced /z/.
US: /ˈwɜrkˌpiːs/, rhotic with a clear /r/. UK: /ˈwɜːk paɪs/ or /ˈwɜːkpiːs/, non-rhotic or lightly rhotic depending on region; AU: /ˈwɜːk piːs/ with similar diphthongs as UK but often widened vowels. Note small differences in the length of the /ɜː/ vowel and the linking of the two syllables. All variants keep the /piːs/ ending.
Because it combines a tense, central vowel in the first syllable (/ɜː/ or /ɜ/), a strong voiceless /k/ followed by a clear /p/ onset, and a long /iː/ in the second syllable. The transition between /k/ and /p/ can cause compression, making the two consonant sounds fuse in rapid speech. Practicing distinct stops and a light breath between syllables helps.
The word features a stress pattern that emphasizes the first syllable, followed by a weaker secondary stress or a strong syllable boundary before the long /iː/ in the second syllable. This makes the timing crucial: you should clearly separate WORK and piece while maintaining the connected flow between them.
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- US: emphasize rhotic /r/ in WORK; keep /ɜː/ close to /ɜr/ in rapid speech. - UK: the first vowel can be more centralized /ɜː/ or even /ɜ/ depending on region; the second syllable should stay as a crisp /piːs/ without vowel reduction. - AU: often preserves a lengthier /ɜː/ and a clearer /iː/ in the second syllable; keep total length similar to UK while allowing a slightly broader vowel chart. IPA references: /ˈwɜːkˌpiːs/ (UK/US standard), /ˈwɜrkˌpiːs/ (rhotic US). - General: keep the stress natural, avoid overemphasizing the /rk/ blend; let the /k/ and /p/ be percussive but not overly aspirated.
The term workpiece blends two English roots: work, from Old English wyrcian, meaning to perform or produce, and piece, from Old French piece or Latin fragmentum meaning a portion. The early industrial vocabulary in the 19th century adopted workpiece to denote any unit that is the product of a manufacturing step and will undergo subsequent machining or assembly. The phrase likely arose in mechanical trades to distinguish temporary or intermediate components from raw material (stock) and final assemblies. In engineering documentation, workpiece became a standard noun to describe a single unit subject to tooling operations, with the sense expanding to both rough-cut and finished elements. The modern usage persists across metalworking, woodworking, plastics, and additive manufacturing, where precise dimensional control and traceability of each workpiece are essential in quality management systems.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "workpiece" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "workpiece" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "workpiece"
-hip sounds
-lip sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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