3 syllables: de, lir, ious. Stress on lir.
/dɪˈlɪriəs/
Say it backDelirious describes a state of wild excitement or mental confusion often marked by incoherence or extreme enthusiasm. It can refer to feverish, irrational behavior or speech, typically resulting from illness, intoxication, or intense emotion. In everyday use, it conveys a sense of unsteady perception rather than a calm, rational mindset.
"After hours of coughing and fever, he became delirious and started talking about imaginary friends."
"The crowd's delirious cheers carried through the stadium after the victory."
"Her delirious laughter filled the room, making it hard to tell what was real."
Pronounce as dɪˈlɪr.i.əs with primary stress on the second syllable: de-LIR-ee-us. Start with /d/ + short /ɪ/ (as in 'sit'), then /l/ and a quick /ɪ/ vowel, followed by /r/ with a light roll in some speakers, then /i/ in the third syllable, and end with /əs/ (like 'us'). For clarity, think: de-LIR-ee-us. Audio references: listen on dictionary entries or Forvo to hear multiple speakers.
Two common errors are misplacing the stress on the first syllable (de-LIR-ee-us vs de-LI-ri-ous) and elongating the second vowel too much (di-LI-ree-us). Correct by keeping the primary stress on the second syllable and using a short /ɪ/ in the first two vowels, then a clean /i/ for the third, finishing with a reduced /əs/. Practice linked syllables to avoid breaking into a long, unnatural vowel.
In US English, primary stress remains on the second syllable with rhotic /r/. In UK English, /r/ is less rhotic after non-syllabic vowels, and there can be a slightly shorter /ɪ/ and crisper /r/ in careful speech. In Australian English, you may hear a more relaxed vowel quality, with a flatter /ɪ/ and a lighter /ɹ/ in non-rhotic positions. Overall, keep the /ˈlɪr/ cluster cohesive and ensure the final /əs/ remains unstressed.
The challenge lies in the two consecutive unstressed vowels after the strong /lɪr/ cluster, plus fast consonant transitions between /d/ and /l/. Maintaining accurate stress while not letting the /ɪ/ sound become overly long is key. Judges of pronunciation notice the smooth linking between /l/ and /r/ and the quick, relaxed ending /əs/. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the mid syllables.
Note the two-letter sequence -ri- often carries the /ɪr/ blend; avoid turning it into a pure /ri/ without an appropriate /ɪr/ onset. The main tip is to keep the second syllable strong: de-LIR-i-ous. Also monitor vowel quality in the final syllable: /əs/ versus /ɪəs/ in some rapid speech. Listening to native speakers and shadowing helps cement the exact mouth positions.
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Delirious comes from the Latin delirare, meaning to wander from the furrow or be deranged, from de- (down, away) + lira (to pluck, draw) in a figurative sense of wandering mind. The term evolved in Late Middle English from Medieval Latin deliriosus, itself from delirium. Delirium originally described a medical condition involving fever-induced confusion and disordered thinking, dating to ancient medical texts. By the 16th–17th centuries, delirious broadened from strictly medical fever states to include heightened emotional excitement and irrational speech. The word carried a clinical weight in the 19th century but gradually expanded in general usage to describe extreme emotions or unrestrained behavior. Across languages, cognates reflect the sense of a mind temporarily wandering or not anchored in reality, with Latin roots preserved in medical and psychological terminology today.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "delirious" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "delirious" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "delirious"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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