5 syllables: con, spic, u, ous, ly. Stress on spic.
kuhn-SPIK-yoo-uh-slee
/kənˈspɪkjuəsli/
conspicuously is pronounced kuhn-SPIK-yoo-uh-slee (/kənˈspɪkjuəsli/). It has five syllables (con-spic-u-ous-ly), with the stress on "spic". Conspicuously means in a manner that is very noticeable or obvious, often drawing attention deliberately due to brightness, form, or behavior. The term implies a striking or overt display that stands out within a context, sometimes with a negative or evaluative undertone. It is typically used to describe actions, appearances, or objects that attract attention more than usual.
Conspicuously means in a manner that is very noticeable or obvious, often drawing attention deliberately due to brightness, form, or behavior. The term implies a striking or overt display that stands out within a context, sometimes with a negative or evaluative undertone. It is typically used to describe actions, appearances, or objects that attract attention more than usual.
- You may drop the /juː/ sound in -uously and say conspicu-ly, which flattens the word; fix by articulating /juː/ clearly between /kɪ/ and /əs/. - Another error is misplacing the stress to the second syllable or spreading it too evenly; ensure primary stress on SPIC. - Slurring the -ously ending into a single syllable; practice saying -ə sli to keep two clear segments. - Often the /sp/ cluster is reduced to /s/ followed by /p/; keep the tight /sp/ blend for correct rhythm. - In rapid speech, the entire word can blur; use slow pronunciation drills before speed work to preserve accuracy.
"Her necklace was conspicuously bright against her dark dress."
"The error was conspicuously absent from the report, which raised questions about its completeness."
"He wore a conspicuously plaid suit, making him hard to miss in the crowd."
Break it as kon-SPIK-yoo-uhs-lee. In IPA: US /kənˈspɪkjuːəsli/, UK /kənˈspɪkjuːəsli/. Primary stress falls on the second syllable SPIC. The sequence -spic- rhymes with 'nick,' followed by -u- as a long 'u' sound, then -ous- as 'uhs,' and -ly as 'lee.' Mouth shape: start with neutral initial, then a crisp k plus n cluster, then a strong /ˈspɪk/ cluster with the lips rounded slightly for /juː/ and relaxed for /əs/ before the final /li/. Audio reference: you can listen toForvo or Pronounce examples labeled conspicuously pronounced with the stress on -spik-.
Common errors: misplacing stress (say con-SPIC-uously rather than con-spi-CU-ous-ly), mispronouncing the /sp/ cluster as separate s+ p without a proper /sp/ blend, and truncating the -ously ending to -ous- or -ly only. Correction: practice the full sequence con-SPIK-yoo-uhs-lee with a clear /sp/ blend, and keep the /ɪ/ vowel in the /spɪk/ box short and crisp. Use minimal pairs to solidify the second-syllable stress and the //juː/ glide. Listen to native pronunciations and imitate the rhythm.
US tends to rhotically reduce vowels slightly and maintain a strong /ɪ/ in -spɪk-, with /juː/ as a clear glide. UK often preserves a slightly tighter /juː/ with less vowel reduction in non-stressed syllables; AU shares US vowel qualities but can be a touch flatter in fast speech. Overall rhoticity: US is rhotic, UK non-rhotic where /r/ is silent, affecting the rhythm around -li. Core /kənˈspɪkjuːəsli/ or /kənˈspɪkjʊəsli/ remains, but the diphthong in /juː/ and the linking between /kən/ and /ˈspɪk/ can shift subtly.
The difficulty lies in the /ˈspɪk/ cluster immediately after the unstressed /kən/, the /juː/ glide following /kɪk/, and the long adverbial -ously ending, which compresses into three syllables in fast speech. The combination of a strong consonant cluster (spic) and a trailing /-uəsli/ sequence challenges timing and mouth placement. Mastery comes from practicing the exact sequence: kən- SPIC- yoo- uh s- lee, with steady stress on SPIC.
No silent letters in conspicuously. Each letter contributes to the pronunciation: c-o-n-s-p-i-c-u-o-u-s-l-y. The challenge is not silence but precise articulation of the /spɪk/ cluster, the /juː/ glide after it, and the final -li. Practitioners often mispronounce by slurring the -y- or dropping the -ly; keep the enunciation deliberate: con-SPIK-yoo-uhs-lee.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "conspicuously"!
- US: pressure on the stressed syllable with a crisp /sp/ cluster; vocalize /juː/ as a clear glide; rhoticity affects surrounding vowels slightly. - UK: maintain non-rhoticity; /r/ is silent; keep /juː/ slightly more rounded; keep final /li/ crisp. - AU: similar to US but with more flat vowel quality in unstressed syllables; approximate /juː/ with a slightly reduced /uː/ sound. IPA anchors: /kənˈspɪkjuːəsli/ (US), /kənˈspɪkjuːəsli/ (UK), /kənˈspɪkjuːəsli/ (AU).
Conspicuously derives from the Latin conspicuus, meaning ‘visible, noticeable, apparent,’ formed from com- ‘together, with’ and specere ‘to look.’ The English form entered Middle French as conspicu, then into English by the 16th century as conspicuous, meaning ‘easily seen; obvious.’ The adverbial suffix -ly was later added to describe the manner of visibility: conspicuously. Over time, usage broadened from literal visibility (physical being seen) to figurative conspicuousness—behaviors or features intended to attract attention. The word’s shift toward social evaluation increased in the 19th and 20th centuries, where conspicuity often implies intentional or conspicuous display, sometimes with a negative connotation of performance or showiness. First known uses cite authors describing overt displays or obviousness in appearance or action, reflecting the historical emphasis on visibility as a cue for judgment. Today, conspicuously retains its core sense of noticeable display across contexts from fashion to behavior to branding.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "conspicuously" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "conspicuously" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "conspicuously" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "conspicuously"
-sly sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
-## Sound-by-Sound Breakdown\n- Phonemes: /k/, /ən/, /ˈspɪk/, /juː/, /əs/, /li/; - mouth positions and common substitutions: /k/ at the start is velar, tongue high-back; /ən/ reduces; /ˈspɪk/ blends with a tight lip and alveolar release; /juː/ is a high back rounded vowel; /əs/ reduces to schwa; /li/ clean alveolar lateral. Common substitutions include replacing /juː/ with /ju/ or /juː/ with /ɪu/ in some accents; avoid /ɪ/ in /ˈspɪk/; keep crisp.\n-## Accent Variations\n- US: rhotic, /r/ pronounces only in rhotic contexts; stress on SPIC; vowel qualities broad; /juː/ slides slightly.\n- UK: non-rhotic; /r/ silent; /juː/ often more central; sometimes weaker linking after /kən/; SPIC remains crisp.\n- AU: similar to US; tends to be less vowel height in unstressed syllables; /juː/ somewhat shorter; final -ly pronounced fully.\n-## Practice Sequence\n- Minimal pairs: conspicuously vs conspicuous; vs conspicuously pronounced with deliberate stress shift; con- vs SPIC.\n- Syllable drills: con- /ən/ - SPIC- /spɪk/ - yu- /juː/ - ous- /əs/ - ly /li/.\n- Context sentences: 2 sentences showing emphasis on SPIC; slow to normal pace, then fast.\n-## Mastery Checklist\n- Check articulatory positions for /spɪk/ and /juː/; verify rhyming accuracy with /-juəsli/; monitor stress and rhythm, ensuring primary stress on SPIC and a clean final /li/.
