5 syllables: Co, ri, o, la, nus. Stress on o.
kaw-ree-OH-luh-nuhs
/kɔɹiˈoʊlənəs/
Coriolanus is pronounced kaw-ree-OH-luh-nuhs (/kɔɹiˈoʊlənəs/). It has five syllables (Co-ri-o-la-nus), with the stress on "o". Coriolanus is a proper noun referring to a legendary Roman general and to Shakespeare's tragedy’s title character. It denotes a specific person, often invoked in literary, historical, or theatrical contexts, and is discussed in scholarly and performance settings. The pronunciation emphasizes three syllables, with a primary stress on the second syllable, yielding an authoritative, classical cadence when spoken in formal discourse.
nounCoriolanus is a proper noun referring to a legendary Roman general and to Shakespeare's tragedy’s title character. It denotes a specific person, often invoked in literary, historical, or theatrical contexts, and is discussed in scholarly and performance settings. The pronunciation emphasizes three syllables, with a primary stress on the second syllable, yielding an authoritative, classical cadence when spoken in formal discourse.
How to Pronounce Coriolanus
"The character Coriolanus is studied for his complex political and personal motivations."
"Scholars debated Coriolanus's fate after his defection from Rome."
"In the play, Coriolanus confronts allegiance, pride, and the struggles of leadership."
You say /ˌkɒriˈɒlənəs/ in UK English or /ˌkɔːriəˈlænəs/ in General US English, with primary stress on the third syllable, roughly ko-ree-OL-uh-nuhs. In careful reading or performance, stress shifts toward the middle to emphasize the name’s classical cadence. Practically, start with KO-ree-OH-la-nus, and refine the final -us to a light schwa in connected speech.
Common errors: misplacing stress away from the third syllable (ko-REE-o-la-nus); truncating the middle vowel so it becomes KO-ree-OL-a-nus; or pronouncing the final -us too strongly as -uss. Correction: place primary stress on the fourth syllable syllable group ('-la-') in many modern readings, and use a light final -əs or -əs as in 'uh-nuhs'. Practice slow repetitions: ko-ree-OL-uh-nuhs.
US tends toward koo-ree-uh-LAY-nuhs or ko-ree-ol-uh-nus with a rhotic 'r' and a clear middle vowel; UK often uses ko-ree-OL-uh-nəs with less rhoticity in non-rhotic varieties, and AU slightly broadens vowels with a longer Australian diphthong in -o-, giving kah-ree-OL-uh-nus. Pay attention to rhotics, vowel length, and final schwa.
Difficult due to three consonant clusters and a syllable-timed rhythm: 'Cor-io-la-nus' with a mid central vowel in -o- and a subtle 'li' link. The primary stress is not on the initial syllable, which clashes with many English names. The final -nus can drift to -nəs or -næs, depending on accent. Focus on the mid syllable 'li' and the final -us's neutral vowel.
The key is the classical, multi-syllabic cadence: three vowels in the middle with a prominent 'ol' sound and a final soft 'uh-nəs' or 'ənəs'. The long 'a' or 'e' sounds appear in some readings as an 'ay' or 'eh' depending on tradition. The name often carries a dignified weight in Shakespearean performance, so speakers emphasize the mid syllable 'ol' to convey gravitas.
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Coriolanus derives from Latin Coriolanus, a name formed from the gens Cori, linked to the city of Cori in Latium, and the suffix -anus indicating belonging or lineage. In Roman naming conventions, Coriolanus would indicate a member of the Cori clan or a person named after the place. The name appears in epic and historical texts with references to the legendary Coriolanus famed for his early bravery and later resistance to Rome. Shakespeare adapted Coriolanus from Plutarch and other sources, but also chose a name implying nobility and ancient lineage to reinforce the character’s aristocratic tone and fatal pride. The first known literary use in English arises in the late 16th century through Shakespeare’s tragedy, where the name functions as a symbolic emblem of virtue and tyranny intersecting in one man. Over time, Coriolanus has become a fixture in literary discourse, used to evoke a conflicted martial aristocrat and to frame discussions of power, loyalty, and contempt for popular demagoguery. The word's use in modern criticism and theater often foregrounds its classical gravitas and moral complexity, reinforcing its status as a cornerstone reference in studies of Renaissance tragedy and Roman history.
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Words that rhyme with "Coriolanus"
-tor sounds
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