2 syllables: Flaw, less. Stress on Flaw.
FLAW-luhs
/ˈflɔləs/
Flawless is pronounced FLAW-luhs (/ˈflɔləs/). It has two syllables (Flaw-less), with the stress on "Flaw". Flawless is an adjective describing something without flaws or imperfections; perfectly executed or completed. It conveys a sense of faultlessness, precision, and high quality, often in appearance, performance, or outcome. The term implies complete accuracy and consistency across details, leaving no obvious errors behind.
adjectiveFlawless is an adjective describing something without flaws or imperfections; perfectly executed or completed. It conveys a sense of faultlessness, precision, and high quality, often in appearance, performance, or outcome. The term implies complete accuracy and consistency across details, leaving no obvious errors behind.
How to Pronounce Flawless
"Her flawless performance earned standing ovations from the audience."
"The dress had flawless stitching and a pristine finish."
"We delivered the project with flawless timing and accuracy."
You say /ˈflɔː.ləs/ in both US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with an open back rounded vowel in /ɔː/ like 'law' and end with a light, unstressed /ləs/ cluster. Tip: keep the second syllable short and quick, not stretched. For reference, listen to native speakers on Pronounce or Forvo to hear the exact mouth placement.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (e.g., saying flaWLESS), over-articulating the second syllable, or confusing /ɔː/ with /ɒ/ in certain dialects. Another frequent issue is pronouncing the final /s/ as a voiced z; keep it voiceless /s/. Focus on keeping the /ɔː/ vowel robust and the second syllable lax: /ˈflɔː.ləs/.
In US, /ˈflɔː.ləs/ rhoticity doesn’t change the syllables much, but the /ɔː/ may be more open and the final /ə/ may be slightly reduced. UK tends to maintain a clearer /ɒ/ vs /ɔː/, though many speakers merge in casual speech; final /s/ remains voiceless. Australian typically mirrors US/UK with a slightly more centralized final /ə/ and a light, quick second syllable. IPA guides show /ˈflɔː.ləs/ across dialects, with subtle timing differences.
The challenge lies in producing the long, tense /ɔː/ vowel in the first syllable while keeping the second syllable unstressed and reduced to /ə/ or /ə/ in rapid speech. Some speakers also inadvertently make the final /s/ sound like /z/ or elongate the second syllable. Mastery requires accurate mouth positioning for /ɔː/ and a crisp, quick /ləs/ end, especially in fluent speech.
The word’s unique character is the combination of a strong initial syllable with an unstressed, reduced second syllable. You can visualize it as a strong onset /fl-/ followed by a relaxed /ɔː.ləs/. This balance—clear first syllable with a quick, light second—drives natural, native-like pronunciation in connected speech.
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Flawless derives from flaw, meaning a crack or defect, with the suffix -less indicating absence. The noun flaw originates from Old English flawe or similar Germanic roots denoting a defect or imperfection, with paraphrase in Middle English as flawen. By the 16th century, phrases like flawless began appearing in English literature to describe objects or performances free of faults. The concept evolved from literal physical flaws to broader connotations of perfection and faultlessness, particularly in art, craftsmanship, and performance. The word entered broader colloquial usage by the early modern period and solidified in modern English to express an ideal standard of excellence. The combination of flaw + -less continues to signal the absence of flaws rather than the presence of flawless attributes, reinforcing the notion of pristine completeness across contexts.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Flawless" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Flawless" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Flawless"
-ess sounds
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