3 syllables: com, mon, est. Stress on com.
KAH-muh-nist
/ˈkɑːmənɪst/
commonest is pronounced KAH-muh-nist (/ˈkɑːmənɪst/). It has three syllables (com-mon-est), with the stress on "com". Commonest is the superlative form of common, used to describe the thing most typical or widespread. It functions as an adjective or adverb in contexts like “the commonest mistake” or “commonest in the region,” signaling the highest degree of frequency or standardization within a group or category. It often implies consensus or typicality rather than rarity.
Commonest is the superlative form of common, used to describe the thing most typical or widespread. It functions as an adjective or adverb in contexts like “the commonest mistake” or “commonest in the region,” signaling the highest degree of frequency or standardization within a group or category. It often implies consensus or typicality rather than rarity.
"Among the theories proposed, the commonest explanation is the simplest."
"This blueprint reflects the commonest approach, though others exist."
"In this dataset, the commonest pattern appears in the early samples."
Say COM-mon-est with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ˈkɒmənɪst/. Break it into three sounds: /ˈkɒ/ as in 'cot', /mən/ with a schwa and a soft 'n', and /ɪst/ ending with a short i plus /st/. Keep the middle /ə/ relaxed and the final /st/ clean. You can hear it in dictionaries or pronunciation apps by searching 'commonest' and selecting UK/US voices; aim for smooth transitions without adding extra syllables.
Common mistakes include overtly stressing the second syllable (comMONest) or merging the middle syllable into the first (ˈkɒm ənɪst). Another error is mispronouncing the final cluster as /st/ with a veiled /ɪ/ or adding a /ə/ after the /ɪ/ (comˈmənɪst). Correct by maintaining primary stress on the first syllable, using a clear /ə/ in the middle, and ending with a crisp /st/. Practice with minimal pairs like COM/mun/est to train the rhythm.
In US English, /ˈkɒmənɪst/ has a rounded /ɒ/ in the first syllable and a short, neutral /ə/ in the second. UK and many Commonwealth accents often maintain /ɒ/ similarly but may be more clipped or slightly longer in /ə/ depending on rhythm. Australian English tends to be forward, with a shorter /ə/ and a louder, sharper final /st/. The rhoticity doesn't affect /ˈkɒmənɪst/ much, but vowel quality and rhythm can shift slightly, influencing the perceived stress and tempo.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable rhythm with stress on the first, plus a quick, unstressed /ə/ in the middle that can blur when speech rate increases. The final /st/ cluster requires precise tongue-tip contact without voicing. Non-native speakers often distort the /ɒ/ vowel or substitute /ʌ/ or /ə/ in the first syllable, and may insert extra vowels. Focus on clear initial /ˈkɒ/ and a crisp /mənɪst/ without vowel inflation.
Remember the adjective form’s meaning—‘most common’—and keep the flow natural by keeping the first syllable prominent, then a quick, light middle syllable, ending with a precise /st/. Make sure the middle /ə/ isn’t reduced too much; a neutral schwa helps clarity. In fast speech, practice pacing so the three syllables remain distinct without sounding artificial. IPA cue: /ˈkɒ.mə.nɪst/.
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Commonest comes from Old French comoun (common) from Latin communis, meaning shared or general. The English form began in Middle English as comoun, later evolving to common by semantic broadening. The superlative suffix -est attaches to the adjective common, yielding commonest, used to denote the highest degree of shared frequency or standardization in a given set. The sense of “most widespread” or “most ordinary” emerged through semantic narrowing in the late medieval to early modern periods, aligning with comparative adjectives that signify extremity within a class. First prints of superlatives in English date from the 13th–14th centuries, with commonest appearing in texts as a natural extension of common’s gradation, particularly in descriptive prose and debate, where ranking of explanations or traits by frequency or acceptance was common. The word has remained stable in use as a formal, descriptive superlative in both spoken and written registers, though in modern usage it often appears in analytical or evaluative writing to emphasize prevalence over novelty.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "commonest" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "commonest"
-est sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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