5 syllables: ge, ne, ro, si, ty. Stress on ro.
jen-ur-AH-suh-tee
/ˌdʒɛnɚˈɑsəti/
generosity is pronounced jen-ur-AH-suh-tee (/ˌdʒɛnɚˈɑsəti/). It has five syllables (ge-ne-ro-si-ty), with the stress on "ro". Generosity is the quality of giving more of something, such as time or money, than is strictly necessary or expected. It implies a willingness to help others without expecting anything in return, often accompanied by a warm, open attitude. In everyday use, the term can describe acts, motives, or cultural norms around sharing resources.
Generosity is the quality of giving more of something, such as time or money, than is strictly necessary or expected. It implies a willingness to help others without expecting anything in return, often accompanied by a warm, open attitude. In everyday use, the term can describe acts, motives, or cultural norms around sharing resources.
"Her generosity during the fundraiser touched everyone who attended."
"The charity's generosity enabled many families to stay afloat."
"You can hear the generosity of spirit in his consideration for others."
Pronounce as /dʒɛnəˈrɒsɪti/ (US) or /dʒɛnərəˈɒsɪti/ (UK). Primary stress lands on the third syllable -row as in ro-si-ty: gen-uh-RO-sih-tee with a clear /ˈrɒ/ or /ˈrɔː/ sound. Start with the /dʒ/ cluster, keep the middle vowels lax, and finish with a crisp final /i/.
Common errors: Misplacing stress (putting it on -gen- or -si- rather than -os-), and softening the /t/ into a /d/ or /s/ sound in final syllables. Correction: emphasize the /ˈrɒ/ vowel in the third syllable and maintain a clean /ti/ ending. Practice with minimal pairs like generosity vs generousness to train responsibility of stress and vowel clarity.
In US, you’ll hear /dʒɛnəˈrɒsɪti/ with rhotic /r/ and a darker /ɒ/ vowel. UK tends to a less rhotic or non-rhotic influence in some regions, with /ə/ schwa in the middle and a shorter /ɒ/ quality; final /i/ remains. Australian speakers often reduce /ə/ to schwa and may raise the /ɒ/ to a more open /ɒː/ depending on region, still keeping primary stress on -ros-.
The challenge lies in the three-syllable rhythm with a mid syllable vowel cluster: /ɛnəˈrɒsɪti/. The tricky parts are the mid-middle /ə/ and the /ɒ/ in -ros-, plus the final /ɪti/ sequence that can blur together. Keeping the /r/ liquid and the /ti/ crisp requires careful tongue positioning and vowel length control.
Does the 'gen' syllable carry any subtle alveolar stop variation in rapid speech? Answer: In careful speech, it’s /dʒɛn-/, with a clear affricate /dʒ/. In very casual fast speech, you may hear a lighter release, but the standard is a distinct /dʒ/ onset to avoid ambiguity with ‘tenor’ or ‘genius.’
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Generosity comes from the Latin gens, gent-, meaning “clan, people” and the suffix -osus, meaning “full of.” The root gens evolved into generous in Middle English via Old French generous, ultimately from Latin liberalis, meaning “noble, of free spirit,” which reflected the concept of liberality and generosity. The term first appears in English in the 13th century, initially describing the disposition of a noble person who freely gives gifts or aid. Over time, generosity broadened to refer to the practice of giving not only money but time, resources, or kindness. By the 17th–18th centuries, it became a moral virtue in religious and civic discourse, while in modern usage it also denotes the scale or extent of benefaction in social and charitable contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "generosity" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "generosity" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "generosity"
-ity sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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