3 syllables: Co, pi, ous. Stress on Co.
KOH-pee-uhs
/ˈkoʊpiəs/
Copious is pronounced KOH-pee-uhs (/ˈkoʊpiəs/). It has three syllables (Co-pi-ous), with the stress on "Co". Copious is an adjective meaning abundant in supply or quantity. It implies more than enough or plentiful, often underscoring meticulous or extensive amounts. In use, it often describes large, generous amounts of something, such as notes, evidence, or resources.
adjectiveCopious is an adjective meaning abundant in supply or quantity. It implies more than enough or plentiful, often underscoring meticulous or extensive amounts. In use, it often describes large, generous amounts of something, such as notes, evidence, or resources.
"The researcher took copious notes during the lecture."
"She offered copious compliments, generously praising every detail."
"The rain produced copious amounts of water, flooding the streets."
Pronounce as /ˈkoʊ.pi.əs/ (US) or /ˈkəʊ.pi.əs/ (UK/AU). The primary stress sits on the first syllable: CO- or COU-. The middle syllable is a quick, light /pi/ and the final syllable is a short, unstressed /əs/. Mouth: start with a rounded /oʊ/ in US, or a long /əʊ/ in UK/AU, then a clean /pi/, finishing with a soft, relaxed /əs/. Audio can be heard on Pronounce or Forvo.
Common errors: misplacing stress on the second syllable (coPΙous) or making the final -ous too strong as /juːs/ or /əs/ with extra length. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈkoʊ/ or /ˈɡəʊ/ sound depending on dialect, then utter a crisp /pi/ and a short, reduced /əs/ to finish. Practice slow: /ˈkoʊ.pi.əs/ (US) or /ˈkəʊ.pi.əs/ (UK/AU) and compare with recordings to ensure the final syllable isn’t stressed.
US typically yields /ˈkoʊ.pi.əs/ with a clear /oʊ/ and rhotic ‘r’ absence; UK/AU commonly use /ˈkəʊ.pi.əs/ with a stronger /əʊ/ and non-rhotic R. The middle /pi/ remains consistent, and the final /əs/ is light across dialects. Some speakers may slightly vowel-lengthen the first vowel in careful speech. Overall, the main difference is the first vowel quality: /oʊ/ in US vs /əʊ/ in UK/AU; rhoticity doesn’t affect this word, as it lacks an /r/ in the final position.
Key challenges include the two unstressed syllables after the primary stress and the final reduced -ous. Many speakers over-pronounce the final syllable or apply a full /juː/ or /oʊ/ sound to -ous. Focus on maintaining a strong initial /koʊ/ or /kəʊ/, then a quick, light /pi/, followed by a short, relaxed /əs/. Use minimal pairs and mouth-position awareness to avoid creeping vowel length in the final syllable.
Think of it as two compact units: COP-ious, with the emphasis on the first, and then lightly glide into the /iəs/ portion by relaxing the jaw and letting the final /əs/ emerge without a heavy vowel. Practice with a tempo that emphasizes the first syllable and then decays softly in the last. This isolates the rhythm and reduces over-articulation in the final syllable.
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Copious comes from the Latin copiosus meaning 'abundant, plentiful,' which itself derives from copia meaning 'abundance, supply' and is related to the phrase copia rerum. The term entered English via Latin in the late 16th century, originally used in classical and ecclesiastical Latin to describe abundant harvests or plentiful resources. In English, copious retained a sense of generous quantity and detail, often used in academic or formal prose to emphasize extensive amounts of information, notes, or evidence. While early uses leaned toward physical abundance (copious rainfall, crops), by the 17th–18th centuries writers broadened it to describe abundant description, data, or references. The word has maintained its positive, quantitative nuance, and in modern usage frequently collocates with ‘notes,’ ‘evidence,’ ‘details,’ ‘information,’ and ‘quantities,’ signaling a thorough, expansive amount. The pronunciation and spelling have remained stable since its introduction, with stress on the first syllable (CO-pi-ous) and the second vowel reduced in standard pronunciation. First known use in English is documented in literary sources from the 1500s–1600s, with classical precedents in Latin texts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Copious" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Copious"
-ous sounds
-me) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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