3 syllables: glo, ri, ous. Stress on glo.
GLAW-ree-uhs
/ˈɡlɔɹiəs/
glorious is pronounced GLAW-ree-uhs (/ˈɡlɔɹiəs/). It has three syllables (glo-ri-ous), with the stress on "glo". Glorious describes something majestic, splendid, or worthy of great admiration. It conveys a sense of grandeur and triumph, often used to praise events, achievements, or settings. The word carries a positive, celebratory tone and is typically used in formal or elevating contexts.
Glorious describes something majestic, splendid, or worthy of great admiration. It conveys a sense of grandeur and triumph, often used to praise events, achievements, or settings. The word carries a positive, celebratory tone and is typically used in formal or elevating contexts.
"The sunrise over the valley was glorious, painting the sky in brilliant pinks and golds."
"The team celebrated their glorious victory with cheers and confetti."
"She wore a glorious gown that shimmered under the chandelier lights."
Glorious is pronounced as /ˈɡlɔːr.i.əs/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with the ‘gl’ sound [ɡl], then the long open back rounded vowel in /ɔː/ as in ‘caught’, follow with /r/ and a short /i/ as in ‘kit’, and finish with a schwa-like /ə/ plus /s/. For non-native speakers, ensure the /ɔː/ is a drawn-out vowel and that the /r/ is pronounced (rhotic accents). Listen to native models for pitch and length: think “GLOH-ree-uhs.” IPA reference helps you verify vowel quality and syllable timing. Audio examples: Cambridge and Forvo entries under “glorious.”
Two common pitfalls: (1) Dropping the middle /ɔː/ and turning it into a short /ɒ/ or /ɔ/; this makes the word sound more like ‘glor-i-us’ and flattens the vowel. (2) Weakening the final /ɪ.əs/ into a quick /-iəs/ or merging it with /ə/ in a muted way, losing the clear /r/ segment. Correction: hold the /ɔː/ a bit longer before the /r/, ensure the /r/ is pronounced with the tip of the tongue behind the upper teeth, and articulate the final /i.əs/ as two distinct sounds /i.əs/ with a light, quick transition. Practice with minimal pairs to feel the contrasts.
In US, /ˈɡlɔːr.i.əs/ with a rhotic /r/ and a clear /ɔː/ vowel; some Americans may reduce the /ɔː/ toward /ɑ/ in rapid speech. In UK English, /ˈɡlɔːr.i.əs/ is typically non-rhotic or weakly rhotic depending on regional accent, with a more centralized or slightly rounded /ɔː/ and a crisp /r/ in some speakers. In Australian English, /ˈɡlɔː.r.i.əs/ tends to have a clearer /r/ and a slightly brighter vowel, with some speakers lengthening the first syllable similarly to British vowels. Across all, the main differences are rhoticity and the quality of /ɔː/ and the realization of the final /ɪəs/ cluster. IPA references provide precise cues for each variant.
The difficulty centers on holding the /ɔː/ vowel long enough without turning into /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ and on the final cluster /ɪəs/, which requires a quick, light transition from a tense /i/ to a schwa-like /ə/ before /s/. Additionally, the initial /ɡl/ blend must avoid a heavy release that makes the word sound clipped. Practicing with minimal pairs focusing on vowel length and consonant transitions, coupled with listening to native speech, will help you land the stress and smooth the final cluster. IPA guidance and audio models are crucial to calibrate timing and tongue position.
The word divides as glo-ri-ous with the primary stress on the first syllable: GLOR-i-ous. The boundary is after /ˈɡlɔːr/—the first two phonemes form the stressed syllable /ˈɡlɔːr/, followed by /i/ in the second syllable and /əs/ in the final. Practically, you’ll feel a small pause-less boundary between /r/ and /i/ as you shift from the stressed syllable to the unstressed ones. This division helps shape the rhythm and makes the final /əs/ easier to articulate.
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US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced; maintain a deeper, rounded /ɔː/ and articulate /ɹ/ clearly before the /i/. UK: typically non-rhotic in some variants; ensure the /r/ is not overly released and keep vowel quality slightly tenser, approaching /ɔː/ with less rhotic emphasis; AU: rhotic tendencies vary, but generally keep a crisp /ɹ/ and a bright /ɔː/; watch vowel length and a slightly sharper /i/ before /əs/. IPA: US /ˈɡlɔːr.i.əs/, UK /ˈɡlɔːr.i.əs/, AU /ˈɡlɔː.r.i.əs/. Key tips: exaggerate the /l/ and /gl/ blend in all accents, ensure the /r/ follows /ɔː/ clearly in rhotic styles, and keep the final /əs/ short and unstressed.
Glorious comes from Middle English glorious, from Old French glorieux, derived from Late Latin gloriosus, from gloria ‘glory’. The Latin root gloria denotes praise, honor, and fame, with earlier roots in Proto-Italic *glor- and Proto-Indo-European *ghler- meaning to shine or make famous. By the 13th century, English borrowed glor- related forms to describe things worthy of glory or honor, gradually expanding to evoke splendor and magnificence in a broad stylistic sense. The suffix -ous marks adjectives formed from nouns or roots, signaling possessing the quality of glory. The semantic shift expanded from religious or martial glory to general splendor, often used in literary or ceremonial registers. First known use in English traces to medieval religious and chivalric texts, where “glorious” described saints, battles, and divine attributes, later transitioning to secular praise in poetry and prose. Over centuries, the word maintained its positive valence, commonly collocating with adjectives like ‘glorious day,’ ‘glorious moment,’ or ‘glorious victory,’ reinforcing its sense of awe and celebration. In modern usage, glorious frequently conveys Radiant, triumphant quality with potential hyperbole in rhetorical contexts, including speeches, journalism, and marketing prose.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "glorious" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "glorious" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "glorious"
-ous sounds
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