3 syllables: a, tro, cious. Stress on tro.
uh-TROH-shuhs
/əˈtɹoʊʃəs/
atrocious is pronounced uh-TROH-shuhs (/əˈtɹoʊʃəs/). It has three syllables (a-tro-cious), with the stress on "tro". Atrocious is an adjective meaning shockingly bad or extremely unpleasant, often used to describe actions, conditions, or performances. It conveys strong condemnation, suggesting something far below acceptable standards and evoking disappointment or horror. The word carries a formal to neutral tone and is commonly found in reviews, critiques, or emphatic statements.
Atrocious is an adjective meaning shockingly bad or extremely unpleasant, often used to describe actions, conditions, or performances. It conveys strong condemnation, suggesting something far below acceptable standards and evoking disappointment or horror. The word carries a formal to neutral tone and is commonly found in reviews, critiques, or emphatic statements.
"The service at the restaurant was atrocious, and we left disappointed."
"Her performance was atrocious, failing to meet even the basic requirements."
"The weather turned atrocious, forcing everyone indoors."
Pronounced a-TROH-shus (US/UK). Stress on the second syllable: /əˈtrōʃəs/ (US) or /əˈtrəʊʃəs/ (UK). The first vowel is a schwa in unstressed syllables, the second syllable carries primary stress with a long O vowel, and the final -ious ends with /əs/. Mouth position: start with a relaxed lips, glide into a rounded secondary vowel for /ō/ and finish with a light, neutral /s/ or /z/ depending on voicing. Audio references: you can hear natural pronunciation on Pronounce, Forvo, or YouGlish by searching “atrocious” in various speakers.”,
Common errors: 1) Stressing the first syllable: a-TRO-cious is correct; stressing the first dilutes the emphasis (uh-TRAW-shuhs in some attempts). 2) Pronouncing the second syllable as /troh/ instead of /troʃ/—the 'tr' plus a consonant blend is followed by a palato-alveolar fricative /ʃ/ rather than /s/; 3) Final -ious pronounced as /iəs/ instead of /əs/. Correction: emphasize second syllable with /ˈtrō/ or /ˈtrəʊ/ and ensure the ending is /-ʃəs/ or /-ʃəs/ depending on accent. Practice with minimal pairs and mouth-open position for /ʃ/.
In US English, /əˈtroʊʃəs/ with a clear /oʊ/ and rhotic schwa; UK tends to /əˈtrəʊʃəs/ with a more centralized /ə/ and non-rhotic tendencies in some speakers, but often still aligns with /oʊ/ depending on region; Australian often follows US patterns but may soften the /ə/ in the first syllable and maintain /ˈtrəʊ/ with a crisp /ʃ/. The key variation is rhoticity and vowel quality; the /ˈtroʊ/ or /ˈtrəʊ/ nucleus in the second syllable remains prominent across accents.
Phonetic challenges include the two-clause stress pattern on the second syllable and the /ʃ/ sound following /tro/ in the middle syllable, which may be unfamiliar for some learners; the sequence /trəʊ/ or /troʊ/ plus /ʃ/ is quick in rapid speech, and the final /əs/ can be reduced to /əs/ or /əs/ depending on pace. Mastering the vowel quantity in /oʊ/→/ō/ and maintaining secondary stress on the middle syllable requires practice with minimal pairs and accurate tongue placement for the palato-alveolar /ʃ/.
A unique aspect is the potential ambiguity in spelling-to-sound due to -ocious ending; it is not pronounced as /-oʊkəs/ or /-oʃəs/ but as /-ʃəs/. The middle consonant cluster /tr/ followed by a palato-alveolar /ʃ/ can tempt learners to insert an extra vowel. Emphasize the second syllable with /ˈtroʊ/ or /ˈtrəʊ/ while keeping the final /əs/ stable; listening to native speech and repeating after speakers helps fix the pattern.
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- US: emphasize /əˈtroʊʃəs/. The /ə/ in first syllable is reduced; focus on the long /oʊ/ in the second syllable and the /ʃ/ in the third. - UK: /əˈtrəʊʃəs/ with a slightly less pronounced /ə/ but same /ʊ/ diphthong. The /r/ is often non-rhotic in many speakers; stress remains on the second syllable. - AU: similar to US pattern but with more vowel reduction and a clear /ə/ in the first syllable; avoid over-rolling the r; keep /ɔ/ vs /oʊ/ distinction crisp. Reference IPA: US /əˈtroʊʃəs/, UK /əˈtrəʊʃəs/, AU /əˈtrəʊʃəs/.
Atrocious comes from the Latin atrocious, from atrocis meaning 'cruel, terrible, fierce,' which itself derives from the root atrox meaning 'cruel, terrible, harsh.' The form entered English via late Latin and Old French, aligning with senses of cruel or savage behavior. Over time, especially through 18th and 19th century literary usage, it broadened to describe things that are shockingly bad in quality, not just morally cruel. The sense shift from physical ferocity to moral or aesthetic repugnance helped the term attach to events, performances, conditions, or actions that are conspicuously below standard. First widely attested in English in the late 16th to early 17th centuries, the word accrued intensity as literary and rhetorical devices emphasized severity or extremity in evaluation. The modern use typically carries a formal to emphatic tone, and it can apply to both tangible conditions (weather, writing) and intangible judgments (behavior, outcomes). The evolution reflects a consistent anchor in severity relative to expectations, rather than a precise numerical measure, allowing a broad but clear emotive impact in critique.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "atrocious" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "atrocious"
-ous sounds
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