3 syllables: Cum, ber, some. Stress on Cum.
KUHM-bur-suhm
/ˈkʌmbɚsəm/
Cumbersome is pronounced KUHM-bur-suhm (/ˈkʌmbɚsəm/). It has three syllables (Cum-ber-some), with the stress on "Cum". Cumbersome is an adjective describing something that is large or heavy to carry or manage, often awkward or unwieldy, causing difficulty in handling or movement. It emphasizes bulk or complexity that impedes smooth performance or progress, rather than function or capability alone.
adjectiveCumbersome is an adjective describing something that is large or heavy to carry or manage, often awkward or unwieldy, causing difficulty in handling or movement. It emphasizes bulk or complexity that impedes smooth performance or progress, rather than function or capability alone.
- You might tend to overemphasize the final syllable, saying /ˈkʌm.bəˌsɛm/; remind yourself that the final is light /səm/ to keep rhythm natural. - You may insert an extra vowel in the middle syllable (e.g., /ˈkʌm.bu̞ə.r̩.səm/). Practice with a quick, neutral /bə/; avoid bloating the middle. - Some speakers add a tap or flap /ɾ/ after /m/ or before /b/, which disrupts the flow; keep the sequence smooth without additional sounds. - Prosody: avoid a long fall after the first stressed syllable; keep a steady cadence, with the final /səm/ being short and light.
"The old chest was bulky and cumbersome, making it hard to move through the doorway."
"A cumbersome logistics chain slowed the project despite its strong team."
"The new software is powerful, but its interface is cumbersome for beginners."
Cumbersome is pronounced /ˈkʌm.bəˌsɪm/ in US and UK. The primary stress falls on the first syllable: ˈkʌm. Then the middle schwa sound is /bə/, and the final syllable sounds like /səm/ or /sɪm/ depending on the speaker. A natural, brief t- or d-like transition isn’t present; avoid adding extra syllables. Practice with the two middle sounds carefully: the /m/ at the end of the first syllable and the /b/ blending into /ə/.
Common mistakes: (1) Over- syllabicating the word as /ˈkʌm.bə.rˌsɛm/ or adding an extra syllable after the t- or d-sound; (2) misplacing the stress by saying /ˈkʌm.bəˈsiːm/ by applying a long final vowel; (3) final /səm/ mispronounced as /ˈsɛm/ or /ˌsɒm/; correction: keep /səm/ as a short, clipped ending. Focus on the first syllable stress, the mid /bə/ with a relaxed vowel, and a quick /səm/ ending, not a heavier /sɛm/ or /səm/ with extra emphasis.
US/UK/AU differences: In all three, the first syllable carries primary stress: /ˈkʌm/. The middle vowel is a schwa /ə/ in UK and US; AU is similar. Final syllable uses /səm/ in US and UK; Australian can be very light on the /m/ and may reduce to /səm/ with less vowel emphasis. Rhoticity is flat here; rhotic vs nonrhotic accents do not alter the /r/ because it isn’t syllabic. The main variations are the quality of the /ə/ and the length of the final /m/—slightly shorter in fast AU speech.
Cumbersome challenges include the consonant cluster /m.b/ and the transition from /m/ to /bə/ without inserting a vowel; the final /səm/ requires a quick, light /s/ then a soft, rounded /əm/. Ensure you stop the /m/ lightly and glide into /bə/ with a relaxed jaw. The two weak syllables surrounding the main consonant cluster can lull your articulation into softness; keep the middle /ə/ crisp and avoid rounding the lips excessively. IPA cues: /ˈkʌm.bəˌsɪm/ with consistent reduced vowel /ə/ in the middle.
A unique feature is the optional secondary stress pattern on the suffix, sometimes heard as /ˈkʌm.bəˌsɛm/ in very careful speech, though standard is /ˈkʌm.bəˌsɪm/. Pay attention to the subtle shift from the unstressed middle syllable /bə/ to the light final /səm/. This word rarely takes a full second stress; maintain primary stress on the first syllable and keep the tail light and quick.
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- US: emphasize the first syllable with /ˈkʌm/; middle /ə/ is neutral; final /səm/ is light and quick; rhoticity does not affect this word. - UK: similar to US; keep /ə/ sound soft and reduce the final syllable slightly, but maintain clarity. - AU: may pronounce with slightly more relaxed jaw and quicker transition to the /m/. The /ə/ can be slightly more centralized; keep it unstressed and short. Reference IPA: US/UK /ˈkʌm.bəˌsɪm/; AU /ˈkʌm.bə.səm/. - General tip: ensure the /m/ ending blends into a light /s/; avoid vocalic lengthening that makes it sound like /sɛm/ or /sɪm/.”,
Cumbersome derives from the prefix com- (together) and the Middle English word sumen (to rise up, to loom) through obsolete forms that conveyed heaviness and bulk. The current form coalesced in the 16th–17th centuries to describe objects that are difficult to move because of their size, weight, or awkward construction. The underlying sense focuses on gravity and bulk rather than mere complexity. The word’s suffix -some reinforces the sense of abundance or fullness of a given attribute. The journey of cumbersome reflects a shift from literal physical heaviness to more figurative burdens—such as bureaucratic or procedural heft—retaining the core idea of obstruction by mass, weight, or unwieldiness. First known uses appear in early modern English texts describing cumbersome carts or gear, gradually expanding to abstract burdens like cumbersome procedures. Today, it spans physical heft and metaphorical weight in engineering, logistics, and everyday descriptions. The etymological trail underscores a long-standing juncture between material bulk and operational difficulty, a conceptual link you still sense when you describe anything that slows you down because of its size or complexity.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cumbersome" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Cumbersome"
-ome sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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