4 syllables: e, mol, u, ments. Stress on mol.
/ɪˈmoʊljəmənts/
Say it backEmoluments are payments or benefits received, often as compensation for services or office, such as wages, fees, or perquisites. The term is commonly used in legal, governmental, or formal financial contexts to denote compensation beyond base salary. It can also imply income or advantages granted by virtue of an office or position, sometimes with connotations of official entitlement.
"The emoluments of the job included a housing allowance and annual bonuses."
"Lawmakers debated the emoluments clause to prevent conflicts of interest."
"The board acknowledged the emoluments received by the CEO during the year."
Pronounce as /ˌɛm.əˈluː.mənts/ (US/UK) with three syllables plus final -ments. Stress falls on the third syllable: em-uh-LOO-munts. Start with a clear 'eh' as in ‘bet,’ then a neutral, reduced 'uh' in the second syllable, followed by a long 'oo' as in ‘food’ in the stressed syllable, and end with 'mənts' where the t is light and the final s is crisp. IPA guides: US /ˌɛm.əˈluː.mənts/, UK /ˌɛm.əˈluː.mən(t)s/. Audio reference: consult a reputable dictionary or pronunciation platform for native-speaker audio.
Common errors: misplacing stress (trying to stress the first syllable), mispronouncing the middle vowel as a hard ‘a’ or ‘e,’ and shortening the final -ments to ‘-ments’ with a clipped t. Corrections: keep the stress on the third syllable and use a clear long 'oo' in the stressed vowel; ensure the second syllable is a reduced ‘uh’; finish with a soft, light ‘t’ and a crisp final ‘s.’ Practice with the full sequence: /ˌɛm.əˈluː.mənts/.
US/UK both typically use three syllables with stress on the third: /ˌɛm.əˈluː.mənts/ (US) and /ˌɛm.əˈluː.mən(t)s/ (UK). Rhoticity affects the last syllable’s vowel quality: US often maintains a darker /ɜː/ or /ə/ in unstressed syllables; UK tends toward a lighter /ə/ and sometimes a schwa in the second syllable. Australian tends toward a similar pattern to US but with a slightly flatter T in final consonants and subtle vowel shifts in post-vocalic syllables. Listen to native recordings for subtle nuance.
Two main challenges: the three-syllable rhythm with a tertiary stress pattern can trip you up, and the stressed long 'oo' vowel in the third syllable is easy to shorten or mispronounce. The combination /ˌɛm.əˈluː.mənts/ requires keeping the middle syllable reduced while producing a full long vowel in the stressed syllable. Additionally, final -ments requires a light touch on the 't' and a crisp final 's'.
In careful, careful speech the final 's' is pronounced as /s/, making /ˌɛm.əˈluː.mənts/. In very rapid or informal speech, the final /t/ might be elided or the /s/ may be softer, but standard, careful pronunciation keeps both the /t/ and the /s/ audible to preserve the word’s integrity.
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Emolument derives from the Old French emolument, from the Latin emolumentum, literally “a plentiful reward,” from emolere “to remove or press out,” from Latin ex- “out” + molere “to grind, mill.” In medieval and early modern contexts, emolument referred to a benefit or profit from office or employment, often in the sense of the salary or fees attached to a position. The word entered English via legal and administrative language, gaining prominence in formal documents and state matters. Over time, it retained a somewhat archaic or formal flavor, seen in phrases like “emoluments clause” in constitutional documents. In contemporary usage, emoluments typically denotes total compensation or benefits tied to an office, sometimes including gratuities, allowances, or perquisites, rather than just base wages. The term remains relatively rare in everyday speech, but its precise, legally charged meaning persists in governance and corporate discussions. First known use in English attested in the 17th century, with continuing usage in legal and political discourse through modern statutes and debates.
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Words that rhyme with "emoluments"
-nts sounds
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