3 syllables: col, or, less. Stress on col.
KUHL-ur-luhs
/ˈkʌlɚləs/
colorless is pronounced KUHL-ur-luhs (/ˈkʌlɚləs/). It has three syllables (col-or-less), with the stress on "col". Colorless describes something lacking color or pigment, or lacking vivid character or distinctive features. It denotes absence rather than presence, often implying dullness or neutrality. In science, it refers to substances without color in visible light, while in description it can connote neutrality or blandness in style or expression.
Colorless describes something lacking color or pigment, or lacking vivid character or distinctive features. It denotes absence rather than presence, often implying dullness or neutrality. In science, it refers to substances without color in visible light, while in description it can connote neutrality or blandness in style or expression.
"The colorless liquid spilled across the bench, leaving no stain behind."
"Her colorless prose made the story seem flat and uninspired."
"In the lab, colorless crystals indicated a pure compound."
Colorless is pronounced /ˈkʌl.ɚ.ləs/ in US English, with a primary stress on the first syllable. In careful, careful speech, you’ll hear /ˈkʌl.ɚ.ləs/ where the second syllable features a rhotacized schwa /ɚ/ and the final /ləs/ cluster. In UK English, it’s /ˈkʌlə.ləs/ with a lighter /ə/ in the middle and a non-rhotic /r/, giving a more centralized middle syllable. Australian English is similar to UK, often realized as /ˈkɒl.ə.ləs/ or /ˈkʌlə.ləs/ depending on the speaker, with a reduced middle vowel and a non-rhotic pronunciation. Audio resources: Forvo and Cambridge audio provide native pronunciations. Listen for the subtle vowel in the second syllable and keep the final /lə s/ crisp but not over-emphasized.
Common mistakes include devoicing or skipping the middle vowel: saying /ˈkʌl.ləs/ or /ˈkɔl.ləs/ which flattens the second syllable. Another error is misplacing stress, producing /ˈkɒl.ə.ləs/ with shifted emphasis. To correct, practice the three-syllable timing: clear primary stress on first syllable, a relaxed middle schwa or /ɚ/, then the light final /əs/ or /ləs/. Ensure the /l/ is not absorbed by the preceding vowel and that the final /s/ is soft but audible. Use minimal pairs to sharpen the middle vowel and syllable boundaries.
In US English, expect rhotacized middle /ɚ/ and a pronounced final /ɪ s/ cluster as /-ləs/. UK English tends to reduce the middle to a schwa and is less rhotic; you’ll hear /ˈkʌlə.ləs/ with a lighter /ɫ/ tendency and a less pronounced /r/. Australian English is typically non-rhotic with a compact middle vowel, often /ˈkɒ.lə.ləs/ or /ˈkə.lə.ləs/ depending on region, with final /s/ clearly enunciated. IPA notes: US /ˈkʌl.ɚ.ləs/, UK /ˈkʌlə.ləs/, AU /ˈkɒ.lə.ləs/ or /ˈkə.lə.ləs/.
Two main challenges: the middle syllable’s rhotacized or reduced vowel can be tricky when moving from a stressed to an unstressed position, and the cluster at the end /ləs/ can blur if you’re not crisp with the /l/ and /s/. Focus on articulating the middle /ɚ/ or /ə/ clearly without creating a new vowel, then land the final /l/ before /s/ with a light touch. Practicing with slow repetition helps you keep the rhythm even across all three syllables.
Colorless often prompts a listener to expect a strong first syllable with a lighter middle and a compact ending. A colorless pronunciation should avoid turning the middle into a full vowel like /o/ or /ɔː/ and should not merge the final /l/ with the /s/, which creates /-l/ or /-l s/ confusion. Keeping the middle vowel relaxed and short, while clearly articulating the final /l/ and /s/, preserves the three-syllable rhythm and avoids a rushed end.
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Colorless is formed from the combination of color + the abstract suffix -less, meaning ‘without.’ The root word color comes from Latin color, via Old French couleur, with Proto-Indo-European roots. The suffix -less (from Old English -lēas) denotes absence or lacking. The compound colorless first appeared in English in the late 14th to 15th centuries in agricultural and natural-history contexts, but its figurative extension to describe prose, personality, or objects lacking color or liveliness grew in the 18th and 19th centuries as aesthetics and scientific vocabularies expanded. By the 20th century, colorless became common in chemistry to describe solutions and compounds lacking color, and in literary critique to describe styles or characters perceived as dull or neutral. Over time, colorless has maintained a consistent core meaning—“without color”—while broadening to metaphorical uses in culture and media.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "colorless" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "colorless"
-rus sounds
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