4 syllables: Ex, ped, i, tious. Stress on i.
ek-spuh-DISH-uhs
/ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃəs/
Expeditious is pronounced ek-spuh-DISH-uhs (/ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃəs/). It has four syllables (Ex-ped-i-tious), with the stress on "i". Expeditious is an adjective describing actions that are done quickly and efficiently, often with a sense of promptness and purposeful speed. It implies timely efficiency without unnecessary delay. The term is commonly used in formal or professional contexts to characterize processes, responses, or decision-making that proceed rapidly and with deliberate efficiency.
adjectiveExpeditious is an adjective describing actions that are done quickly and efficiently, often with a sense of promptness and purposeful speed. It implies timely efficiency without unnecessary delay. The term is commonly used in formal or professional contexts to characterize processes, responses, or decision-making that proceed rapidly and with deliberate efficiency.
- You often miss the second syllable’s vowel; ensure you articulate /ə/ in /ˌɛk.spəˈdɪ.ʃəs/. - You compress the -dɪ- with the -ʃəs- leading to /-dɪʃəs/ sounding like /-dɪʃəs/; keep the /d/ audible and separate the /ɪ/ from /ʃ/. - Final -tious can be reduced to /ʃəs/ in rapid speech; practice sustaining that /ʃəs/ without turning it into /əs/ or /əs/.
"The team took expeditious measures to contain the leak."
"Her expeditious handling of the case impressed the clients."
"We need an expeditious review to meet the filing deadline."
Pronounce as eks-puh-DISH-əs (US) or ek-spuh-DI-shəs (UK). Primary stress falls on the second syllable in most American speakers and the third syllable in many British varieties. IPA: US /ˌɛk.spəˈdɪ.ʃəs/; UK /ˌek.spɪˈdɪ.ʃəs/. For clarity: emphasize the second vowel sound in the second syllable and ensure the final -ious is pronounced as -ɪəs rather than -iəs. Practicing with rhythm: ex-PE- di- tious, the peak stress on the DI. Audio reference: you can compare with dictionaries (Cambridge, Oxford) and Forvo recordings for native speaker pronunciation.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress on the first or third syllable, yielding eks-PED-i-tious or eks-pet-i- shəs. (2) Merging the middle /d/ with a stronger /t/ making expi-ditious instead of -dɪ-ʃəs. (3) Under‑defining the final -tious as -sious or -tjəs, producing -ʃəs or -tʃəs. Corrections: keep the di- as /dɪ/ with a clear /d/, keep the -tious as /-ʃəs/ with a light, quick schwa before, and maintain secondary stress on the second syllable. Use slow practice with IPA: /ˌɛk.spəˈdɪ.ʃəs/ (US).
US: strong /ˌɛk.spəˈdɪ.ʃəs/, rhotic /r/ none here; fairly pronounced second syllable. UK: /ˌek.spɪˈdɪ.ʃəs/, non-rhotic; longer vowel in the first unstressed syllable; a crisper /t/ before -ious. AU: /ˌek.spɪˈdɪ.ʃəs/ similar to UK but often with more vowel reduction in the first syllable and a slightly flatter intonation. All share the -dɪ- and -ʃəs endings, but stress alignment and vowel quality differ slightly; listen to native examples to calibrate. IPA references help confirm subtle shifts.
Three core challenges: (1) The sequence ex- vs ek- at the start, with a light back-to-front onset; (2) The mid syllable /dɪ/ tensed between d sound and following -i-; (3) The final -tious cluster /-tʃəs/ or /-ʃəs/ that often compresses in fast speech. Practicing with slow, deliberate enunciation of -dɪ- and -ʃəs- helps avoid common reductions. Use IPA: /ˌɛk.spəˈdɪ.ʃəs/ (US) and gradually speed up.
There are no silent letters in expeditious; all letters contribute to syllables. The challenge is more about correct vowel quality, consonant timing, and the -tious ending. Focus on clearly enunciating /dɪ/ and the /ʃəs/ sequence instead of letting the /t/ blend too much with the following /i/.
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- US: generally rhotic with a strong schwa in the first unstressed syllable; maintain /ə/ in the second syllable, and emphasize /ˈdɪ/ in the third. - UK: non-rhotic; stress often shifts slightly earlier; ensure /spɪ/ vs /spə/ distinction, with crisper /dɪ/. - AU: similar to UK; consider slightly flatter intonation; practice with long vowels in initial unstressed syllable and a clean /ʃəs/ ending.
Expeditious derives from Latin expeditius, meaning ‘unimpeded, free for accomplishing,’ from ex- ‘out, forth’ + a root related to ped-, ‘foot,’ or ‘to set forth,’ linked to the sense of moving forward quickly. The form entered English via Late Latin and Old French, taking on the sense of ‘speedy, prompt’ by influence of expedire ‘to justify, to make ready, to hasten.’ In English, the word solidified in the 17th–18th centuries within formal, often legal or administrative prose, to describe actions that are carried out with speed and efficiency. The evolution tracks from a general sense of forward movement to a normative trait applied to processes and responses, preserving the nuance of purposeful, efficient action. Historically, the term often appears in bureaucratic or strategic writing, signaling a preference for time-conscious execution. First known uses appear in scholarly and legal texts of the late 1600s, with broader literary adoption by the 18th and 19th centuries as governance and enterprise demanded brisk, well-ordered conduct. In modern usage, expeditiousness is valued in operations, logistics, and diplomatic contexts, carrying a connotation of both speed and effectiveness.
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Words that rhyme with "Expeditious"
-ous sounds
-te) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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