4 syllables: com, mo, di, ous. Stress on mo.
kuh-MOH-dee-uhs
/kəˈmoʊdiəs/
commodious is pronounced kuh-MOH-dee-uhs (/kəˈmoʊdiəs/). It has four syllables (com-mo-di-ous), with the stress on "mo". Commodious describes a space or container that is large and comfortable, providing ample room. It conveys suitability and convenience due to its generous dimensions, often with a touch of formality. In context, it emphasizes spaciousness and practicality rather than luxury.
Commodious describes a space or container that is large and comfortable, providing ample room. It conveys suitability and convenience due to its generous dimensions, often with a touch of formality. In context, it emphasizes spaciousness and practicality rather than luxury.
"The mansion had commodious halls that allowed for grand gatherings."
"We found a commodious backpack that fit all our hiking gear with ease."
"The library offered commodious reading rooms, perfect for focused study."
Pronounce it co-MO-dee-ous with the primary stress on MO. IPA: US kəˈmoʊdiəs, UK ˌkɒm.ɪ.di.əs or ˌkɒm.ə.di.əs. Start with a light schwa or short 'uh' in the first syllable, then stress the second: /kəˈmoʊ.di.əs/. The 'di' is a clear 'dee' sound, and the final 'ous' sounds like 'əs' or 'əs' in unstressed form. Mouth position: lips relaxed, tongue mid, tip of the tongue near the alveolar ridge for the 'd', and the 'o' in the second syllable should be a rounded back vowel. You’ll hear the strongest energy on the second syllable: co-MO-di-ous.
Common errors include over-guarding the first syllable (CO-mmo-di-ous) by giving it too much stress, and muddling the 'o' vowels: many speakers say 'COMM-oh-dee-us' or 'comm-odd-ee-us' instead of the clean 'co-MO-di-ous' with a clear 'o' in the second syllable. Another mistake is pronouncing the ending as 'ow-us' or 'oh-us' rather than a short 'əs' sound. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable, use a mid-back rounded vowel in the 'MO' part (like 'mo' in 'mow'), keep the 'di' as a clear 'dee', and end with a light, unstressed 'əs'.
In US English, you typically hear kəˈmoʊdiəs with a strong 'o' (long 'o') in the second syllable and rhotic r-free ending, though the final 's' is actually unstressed 'əs'. UK English often shows a slightly shorter 'o' vowel in the second syllable and may carry a secondary stress depending on rhythm: ˌkɒm.ɪ.di.əs. In Australian English, expect a more centralized or shortened first vowel and a clear 'dee' in the third syllable; overall it remains kɒˈmɒ.di.əs or kəˈmɔː.di.əs with less rhoticity but still the same stress pattern. All varieties retain the second-syllable stress but vowels shift subtly according to the local vowel system.
The difficulty lies in the multisyllabic rhythm and the mid-word vowel transitions: the shift from the unstressed first syllable to the stressed second (co-MO-di-ous) can be tricky, plus producing a short, soft 'o' in the final 'di' and the unstressed 'ous' ending as /əs/. Also, non-native speakers may misplace the stress or flatten the 'o' sounds, producing 'COM-mo-di-ous' or 'co-MO-dious.' Focus on the strong second syllable, precise 'o' quality, and a light, quick ending.
A distinctive feature is the mid-word 'MO' with a full, rounded long vowel in many pronunciations, followed by a clear 'dee' and a very light final 'əs.' The second syllable carries the primary stress, and the tail is reduced to a soft schwa plus 's' or 'əs'. Being mindful of that second-syllable vowel length and quality helps prevent the common 'COM-mo-di-ous' mispronunciation.
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Commodious comes from the Latin commodiosus, meaning 'convenient, advantageous,' which itself derives from commodus, meaning 'convenient, fitting, suitable.' The Latin root commod- carries the sense of fitting or meeting a need. In Late Latin, commodiosus formed to describe something that serves well or is advantageous, and it passed into English around the 15th century, retaining the meaning of convenient or comfortable in size or space. Over time, commodious broadened from a purely practical sense of usefulness to describe spaces or objects that feel generous and accommodating, often with a slightly elevated or formal tone. The word has kept its emphasis on suitability and ease of accommodation, distinguishing itself from merely large by stressing the practicality and comfort of the space or item. Today, commodious is most commonly used in reference to rooms, containers, or environments—where generous dimensions enhance usability—rather than to abstract quantities or non-spatial concepts. Its pronunciation and spelling have remained stable in English, with stress typically on the second syllable (co-MO-di-ous), reinforcing its formal register in literary or rhetorical contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "commodious" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "commodious" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "commodious"
-ous sounds
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