4 syllables: Ex, trav, a, gant. Stress on trav.
ek-STRAV-uh-guhnt
/ɛksˈtɹævəɡənt/
Extravagant is pronounced ek-STRAV-uh-guhnt (/ɛksˈtɹævəɡənt/). It has four syllables (Ex-trav-a-gant), with the stress on "trav". Extravagant describes something that is lavishly indulgent or excessive in style or expense. It conveys a sense of grandiosity and opulence that goes beyond what is necessary, often strikingly showy or elaborate in appearance or behavior.
adjectiveExtravagant describes something that is lavishly indulgent or excessive in style or expense. It conveys a sense of grandiosity and opulence that goes beyond what is necessary, often strikingly showy or elaborate in appearance or behavior.
"Her invitation was extravagant, with gold foil and crystal embellishments."
"The new palace features extravagant chandeliers and marble floors."
"He wore an extravagant suit that drew admiring glances from everyone."
Pronounce as /ɪkstrəˈvæɡənt/. Break it into four beats: ex-TRA-va-gant, with primary stress on the third syllable ‘TRA’ after the initial unstressed syllable. Begin with a short, lax initial /ɪ/ then /k/ plus a reduced /str/ cluster, then /ə/ in the second syllable, followed by /væ/ where the vowel is a clear short a, and end with /ɡənt/ where /g/ is a typical hard g and /ə/ is a schwa before the final /nt/. Audio reference: consult pronunciation resources such as Cambridge/Oxford audio or Forvo for native voice samples to hear the rhythm and stress.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (placing emphasis on the second syllable instead of the third), misproducing the /æ/ in /væ/ or turning /æ/ into a broader /ɑː/ in some accents, and softening the /g/ before /ənt/ into /d/ or /j/. To correct: keep primary stress on the third syllable (ex-tra-VA-gant) and pronounce /væ/ with a crisp short a, then /ɡənt/ with a hard /g/ followed by a short schwa before /nt/. Practice with minimal pairs like /ɪkstrəˈvæɡənt/ vs /ɪkstrəˈvædʒənt/ to reinforce correct velar stop and absence of a /dʒ/ sound.
US: rhotic; the /r/ is pronounced and the /ə/ in the second syllable is reduced; final /ənt/ is clear but light. UK: non-rhotic in some varieties, weaker /r/; the /æ/ in /væ/ may be shorter; flap-like or glottalization is rare in careful speech; AU: similar to US but with slightly closer vowels; maintain /ɪkstrəˈvæɡənt/. Overall, the main differences are rhoticity of /r/ in US vs UK non-rhoticity and subtle vowel length differences, especially in the /æ/ vowel and the /ə/ reductions.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic stress pattern with stress on the third syllable, the cluster /str/ after the initial unstressed syllable, and the two consecutive schwas around the central vowels. The combination of a clear /æ/ in /væ/ and a hard /g/ followed by /ənt/ requires precise timing and mouth shape. Additionally, some speakers insert a light /dʒ/ or mispronounce /ɡ/ as /g/ or /ɪ/ as /iː/. Mastery comes from slow practice with accurate IPA vowels and consistent stress.
One quirk is that the middle syllable carries strong emphasis, so you feel a noticeable push in the mouth when pronouncing /væ/. Another is the tendency to reduce the second syllable to a schwa /ə/ and then re-emphasize the /væ/ before the /ɡənt/. Finally, some speakers may try to insert a slight /tʃ/ or /dʒ/, especially in casual speech; avoid this by keeping the /g/ as a hard stop and the following /ənt/ crisp.
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Extravagant comes from the French extravagant, from Medieval Latin extravagantem, from extravaganza ‘wasteful desire, excessive prodigality’ (Latin: extravagans, extravagant-), from the verb extravagare ‘to wander outside, roam beyond’. The root is ex- ‘out of, outside’ + trendere ‘to tread, go, push’ in sense of going beyond measure. In English, extravagant appeared in the 14th–15th centuries to describe prodigal or excessive behavior or expenditure. Through the centuries, it maintained the sense of outward excess—often in dress, property, or display—and acquired nuances of theatrical or flamboyant quality. The word broadened to include anything superfluous or extravagantly self-indulgent, and in modern usage can carry a slightly negative connotation of wastefulness, though it can also convey admired artistry when praising bold style. First known use in English attested around the 1600s, with roots traceable to Latin and French medieval forms that described outwardly visible excess.”,
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Words that rhyme with "Extravagant"
-ant sounds
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