3 syllables: glam, or, ous. Stress on glam.
GLAM-ur-uhs
/ˈɡlæmɚəs/
glamorous is pronounced GLAM-ur-uhs (/ˈɡlæmɚəs/). It has three syllables (glam-or-ous), with the stress on "glam". Glamorous describes something or someone attractive, stylish, and full of charm that evokes admiration or desire. The term conveys a sense of enchantment and high appeal, often associated with glamour, fashion, and allure. It is typically used to characterize appearances, atmospheres, or reputations that are alluring and sophisticated.
Glamorous describes something or someone attractive, stylish, and full of charm that evokes admiration or desire. The term conveys a sense of enchantment and high appeal, often associated with glamour, fashion, and allure. It is typically used to characterize appearances, atmospheres, or reputations that are alluring and sophisticated.
- You often misplace the primary stress or flatten the first vowel; ensure the first syllable carries strong stress and uses /æ/ as in 'cat'. - The middle syllable is a weak /ə/; over-articulating it to /ʌ/ or a full vowel breaks the natural rhythm. - Final -ous should be an /əs/ or /ərəs/ depending on accent; avoid turning it into /əs/ too short or /ɒs/; keep a crisp /s/.
"Her glamorous red-carpet gown turned heads at the gala."
"The Hollywood set exuded glamorous energy, from sparkling costumes to dazzling lights."
"She wore a glamorous smile that lit up the room."
Gl as in 'glam' + a-mor-ous. IPA: US /ˈɡlæ.mə.rəs/, UK /ˈɡlæ.mə.rəs/. Primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a low-back lax vowel in /æ/ as in 'cat', then a unstressed schwa /ə/ in the second syllable, finishing with /rəs/ where the r is non-rhotic in many UK accents, so it sounds like /ˈɡlæ.mə.rəs/ with a subtle vowel sound before the final /r/ in rhotic accents. For precise pronunciation, aim for a crisp first syllable, a neutral middle, and a light, unvoiced final /s/.
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing stress or reducing the first vowel to a schwa; keep the full /æ/ in the first syllable. 2) Slurring the final /-ous/ into /əs/ or /əs/ too abruptly; articulate /ərəs/ or /ə.rəs/ clearly. 3) Pronouncing the middle /ə/ too strongly (as /ʌ/); keep relaxed /ə/ (schwa). Corrections: rehearse /ˈɡlæ.mə.rəs/ with a strong first syllable, a light middle /ə/, and an audible final /s/. Practice with slow, deliberate enunciation and record to compare.
US tends to pronounce /ˈɡlæ.mə.rəs/ with rhoticity and clear /r/ in the final consonant cluster; UK typically features non-rhotic /ˈɡlæ.mə.rəs/ with a softer /ɜː/ or /ə/ in the middle and a silent or light /r/ before a vowel. Australian shares rhotic tendencies like US but often features broader vowel quality in /æ/ and /ə/; the final /s/ is crisp in all, but UK may soften the middle /ə/ more. Awareness of rhotic vs non-rhotic accents will guide the mid vowels and r-coloring.
The difficulty lies in sustaining the multi-syllabic rhythm (three syllables) while keeping the first stressed syllable clearly, and shaping the middle /ə/ as a relaxed schwa rather than a full vowel. Additionally, the final /-ous/ can be mispronounced as /-əs/ or /-ous/ without a voiced /r/ approximation in some accents. Focus on three tight syllables with even tempo and a crisp /s/ at the end.
A unique point: avoid turning the middle /ə/ into another topical vowel (like /o/). Keep the middle syllable as a short, centralized schwa and ensure the final /r/ is either rhotic in US (ənrəs) or lightly pronounced in UK. The key is a steady beat: GLAM - ə - rəs, with the middle flatted to a quick, soft vowel and the final /s/ clearly audible.
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- US: emphasize rhotic /r/ and rounded lip shape for a more spacious middle; /ˈɡlæ.mə.rəs/ with clearer /r/ and a distinct /æ/. - UK: non-rhotic; /ˈɡlæ.mə.rəs/ with a lighter, shorter /r/ and softer /ɔː/ or /ə/ in the middle; - AU: similar to US but with broader vowel qualities and a slightly more relaxed /æ/; keep final /s/ crisp. In all, practice with IPA scaffolds.
Glamorous comes from the noun glamour, which originally referred to magic, enchantment, and illusions—especially used in Scots and English to denote spellbinding beauty. The root likely blends Scots glamour (magic, spell) with the suffix -ous forming an adjective meaning 'full of glamour'. The noun glamour gained popular usage in 18th–19th century English to describe enchanting attractiveness, with the sense expanding through the mid-20th century as Hollywood and fashion icons popularized the idea of cinematic allure. The word’s figurative sense of “appealing brilliance or beauty that captivates” solidified in modern usage, often in contexts of fashion, entertainment, and high-society imagery. First known literary appearances align with 19th-century British sources, while its expansion into common parlance accelerated during the glamorous era of film and celebrity culture in the 20th century.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "glamorous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "glamorous"
-me) sounds
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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