2 syllables: Awe, some. Stress on Awe.
AH-suhm
/ˈɑsəm/
Awesome is pronounced AH-suhm (/ˈɑsəm/). It has two syllables (Awe-some), with the stress on "Awe". Awesome is a versatile, informal adjective meaning extraordinarily good or impressive; it can also function as a colloquial interjection. It conveys strong positive emotion and is widely used in casual speech. In noun form, it carries a playful, meme-like character. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words).
nounAwesome is a versatile, informal adjective meaning extraordinarily good or impressive; it can also function as a colloquial interjection. It conveys strong positive emotion and is widely used in casual speech. In noun form, it carries a playful, meme-like character. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words).
- You may default the /ɔː/ to a short /ɒ/; practice with minimal pairs like 'saw' vs 'saw-some' to hear length. - You might over-emphasize the /s/ or make the final /m/ too tense; keep /m/ light and let /s/ lead into the nasal quietly. - You might ignore the second syllable's weak vowel; ensure a quick, relaxed /səm/ rather than /sam/ or /sə/.
"That concert was awesome!"
"She did an awesome job organizing the event."
"We had an awesome weekend hiking in the mountains."
Pronounce it as /ˈɔː.səm/ (US UK) with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with an open-back rounded vowel for /ɔː/ (like 'awe' as in 'awful' without the 'ful'), then a light, unstressed /səm/ cluster where /s/ is clear and the final /m/ is voiced but soft. Tip: keep the tongue low and back for /ɔː/ and release into a soft /s/ before a quick, subdued /m/. Audio reference: you can compare with standard pronunciations on Pronounce, Cambridge, or Forvo.
Common mistakes: 1) Reducing /ɔː/ to a short /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ in non-rhotic accents; 2) Dropping the second syllable too quickly, turning /səm/ into /səm/ or /sam/ without the reduced schwa; 3) Over-spotlighting the final /m/ and making it too tense. Correction: maintain a reduced vowel in the second syllable (/sə̥m/ or /səm/) and keep the /s/ crisp but not hissed, finishing with a relaxed bilabial /m/. Practicing with minimal pairs like 'awful' vs. 'awesome' can help fix vowel length and final consonant clarity.
In US English, /ˈɔː.səm/ tends to have a longer, rounded /ɔː/ with rhotic R absence in the syllable but a non-rhotic feel. UK English often uses a shorter /ɒ/ or broader /ɔː/ with less lip rounding; AU mirrors US vowels but can show more centralized vowels; the /s/ remains crisp across accents. The final /m/ remains bilabial and nasal. Monitor vowel length and lip rounding shift; listen for subtle differences in the nucleus vowel of /ɔː/ and the reduced second syllable.
Difficulties arise from the two-syllable structure with a weak second syllable and the diphthong-like /ɔː/ that may shift to /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ depending on accent; the unstressed /ə/ in the second syllable quickly becomes a schwa, which can be overlooked by non-native speakers. The contrast between a strong initial vowel and a weak, clipped ending makes timing crucial: start with an open, rounded vowel and glide into a short, relaxed final nasal.
A unique aspect is the strong initial vowel /ɔː/ that can be prononced with varying lip rounding and jaw openness depending on speaker's dialect, and the final nasal /m/ that should be light, ensuring the word ends cleanly. Also, the second syllable often hosts a reduced vowel, which can be difficult for learners who expect equal stress or an explicit vowel rather than a quick, soft 'səm'.
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- US: /ˈɔː.səm/ with a strong, rounded /ɔː/ and a clear, but not sharp, /s/; maintain a light schwa for /səm/. - UK: /ˈɒː.səm/ or /ˈɔː.səm/, often with less rounding and a slightly shorter first vowel; non-rhotic tendencies mean the R is not pronounced in most contexts, but here there is no R to worry about. - AU: similar to US, with slightly broader vowel and sometimes more clipped final /m/. IPA reminders: /ɔː/ vs /ɒː/ or /ɔː/ + /səm/.
Awesome derives from the Middle English awe, from Old English āwe (in modern usage, spelling influenced by awe + -some). The suffix -some, dating to the 15th century, conveys 'causing' or 'characterized by' (as in troublesome, wholesome). The base awe traces to Proto-Germanic *awô*, related to Latinod nihilis via Greek? No—rather, awe in Old English signified a feeling of wonder or fear in the presence of something powerful. In early modern English, awesome described something arousing awe, reverence, or terror. By the 1800s, it broadened to colloquial praise: “awesome!” in youth speech. Today, it remains a high-energy intensifier, often used lightheartedly in everyday conversation and pop culture. First known uses documented in 1590s texts; by the late 20th century, it became ubiquitous in American slang and internet memes, evolving from a descriptor of awe to a standalone interjection of enthusiasm.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Awesome" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Awesome" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Awesome"
-low sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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