Pronunciation: [wɒz ɹˈa͡ɪvə͡lz] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "was rivals" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). "Was" is pronounced as /wɒz/ in British English or /wɑz/ in American English, with an "o" sound like in "hot." "Rivals" is pronounced as /ˈraɪvəlz/, with a strong "i" sound like in "eye" and a silent "al" at the end. Together, "was rivals" is pronounced as /wɒz ˈraɪvəlz/ or /wɑz ˈraɪvəlz/, depending on the speaker's dialect.
The phrase "was rivals" is not a specific word with an etymology. It is a combination of the past tense of the verb "to be" (was) and the noun "rivals". The term "rivals" comes from the Latin word "rivalis", which refers to someone who shares the same wish or desire as another, often resulting in competition or rivalry. The word "rivalis" itself is derived from "rivus", meaning "stream" or "brook". In Ancient Rome, rivals were initially associated with those who shared the same water supply or land boundaries, leading to competition and conflict. Over time, the term's meaning expanded to encompass any type of competition or antagonism between individuals or groups.
