3 syllables: Cy, no, sure. Stress on Cy.
SEYE-naw-sur
/ˈsaɪnɔˌsɝ/
Cynosure is pronounced SEYE-naw-sur (/ˈsaɪnɔˌsɝ/). It has three syllables (Cy-no-sure), with the stress on "Cy". Cynosure is something or someone that attracts attention or serves as a focal point or guide. Historically it referred to the North Star as a guiding beacon, but it now broadly denotes a person or thing that others closely observe or admire. The term implies a clear center of attention within a group or scene.
nounCynosure is something or someone that attracts attention or serves as a focal point or guide. Historically it referred to the North Star as a guiding beacon, but it now broadly denotes a person or thing that others closely observe or admire. The term implies a clear center of attention within a group or scene.
- You may flatten the first syllable, saying /ˈsaɪ.nə/ quickly and losing the final -ˌʃʊər/; ensure the final syllable stays audible with a distinct /ʃ/ or /s/ sound. - You might mispronounce the middle vowel as a full /i/ or /ɪ/; aim for a relaxed /ə/ to create the second syllable’s lightness. Practice by isolating /ˈsaɪ.nə/ then add /ˌʃʊər/ slowly. - Rushing the final syllable can blur the /ʃʊər/ or /sɔː/; slow, then speed up only after you consistently hear the final. Use a tongue-tinged jaw for the /ʃ/ and hold the lip rounding for /ʊə/ or /ɔː/ as your accent requires.
"In the gala, the shimmering gown was the cynosure of all eyes."
"Her leadership in the project made her the cynosure of the department."
"The painting's luminous center became the cynosure of the exhibition."
Pronounce it as /ˈsaɪ.nəˌʃʊər/ (US) or /ˈsaɪ.nəˌsɔː/ (UK). The primary stress sits on the first syllable: SYE-nuh-sure. The second–third syllables form a light, unstressed sequence, with a final rhotic or non-rhotic ending depending on accent. In American speech, the ending often sounds like 'shoor' or 'shore' with the r pronounced; in non-rhotic UK speech, it approaches 'saw' or 'sor' without a pronounced r. Practice by saying “sine” + “uh” + “shure.” Audio reference: listen to well-enunciated pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo for gradual accuracy.
Common errors include misplacing stress (trying to stress the second syllable) and mispronouncing the middle vowel as a long ‘i’ as in ‘cyn-i-sure.’ Correct it by keeping the sequence as SYE-nuh-SHUR with the primary stress on SYE-. Ensure the final -s- is not swallowed; keep it crisp: /ˈsaɪ.nəˌʃʊər/ (US) or /ˈsaɪ.nəˌsɔː/ (UK).
US: /ˈsaɪ.nəˌʃʊər/ with rhotic r in the final syllable; UK: /ˈsaɪ.nəˌsɔː/ with a longer open o and non-rhotic ending; AU: /ˈsaɪ.nəsjʊə/ or /ˈsaɪ.nəˌsjuə/ with variable linking, sometimes a slight y‑glide before the final '-sə' or '-sjøə' sound. The key differences are rhoticity and vowel quality in the final syllable and the treatment of the mid vowels. Practice by isolating the final portion: US often has “shoor,” UK tends toward “saw/soh,” AU may blend toward a slightly longer, rounded second syllable and a palatalization before the ending.
Difficult because of the unusual vowel sequence: a diphthong in the first syllable (/aɪ/), a mid-central vowel /ə/ in the second, and a less common /ʃʊə/ or /sɔː/ in the final syllable. The combination of a three-syllable word with a bisyllabic end complicated by an -ure/-ure consonant blend and the pressure on the first syllable makes it easy to misplace stress or slur the final sound. Slow, deliberate enunciation helps, followed by gradual speed in context.
The word features a stressed initial syllable with a trailing -nə- sequence that must remain light to avoid crowding the final -ʃʊər/ -sɔː. The challenge is balancing a high front vowel sound /aɪ/ in the first syllable with the shorter, schwa-like /ə/ in the second, then producing a crisp palatalized ending. Keeping the middle /nə/ relaxed while the final /ʃʊər/ or /sɔː/ is pronounced clearly provides the distinguishing cadence of Cynosure.
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- US: emphasize rhoticity, ensure the final /ɚ/ or /ər/ is pronounced if possible; keep /ʃʊər/ or /sɔː/ rounded and clear. - UK: non-rhotic ending; the final may sound like /sɔː/ without a pronounced r; keep the middle /ə/ as a relaxed schwa. - AU: variable rhotics; often a slightly more centralized vowel in the final and a smoother linking /j/ or glide between syllables. Reference IPA and practice listening to native speakers to fine-tune tongue position and lip rounding.
Cynosure comes from late Latin cynosure, from Greek kynosoura, which combines kynos (‘dog’) and oura (‘tail’), a reference to the constellation Ursa Minor and the North Star’s guiding role for travelers. The term originated in classical astronomy, where it denoted a bright, guiding star used to navigate. In medieval and early modern English, cynosure extended metaphorically to anything that serves as a guiding center of attention or admiration. By the 16th–18th centuries, it had detached slightly from astronomy and entered broader usage to describe objects or people that attract intense attention. The word’s evolved meaning captures both the literal sense of a navigational beacon and the figurative sense of a guiding focal point in social, artistic, or political contexts. The first known use in English literature appears in translations and scholarly works from the 16th century, reflecting a shift from astronomical to symbolic significance as a focal object in discussions of leadership, beauty, or excellence.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cynosure" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Cynosure"
-ure sounds
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