3 syllables: Glut, ton, y. Stress on Glut.
GLUHT-uh-nee
/ˈɡlʌtəni/
Gluttony is pronounced GLUHT-uh-nee (/ˈɡlʌtəni/). It has three syllables (Glut-ton-y), with the stress on "Glut". Gluttony is an excessive desire to eat, often leading to overindulgence in food. As a formal term, it denotes a passion for eating beyond need, typically viewed as a vice. The noun emphasizes the condition or habit rather than a single act, and is used in both religious and moral discussions as one of the seven deadly sins.
nounGluttony is an excessive desire to eat, often leading to overindulgence in food. As a formal term, it denotes a passion for eating beyond need, typically viewed as a vice. The noun emphasizes the condition or habit rather than a single act, and is used in both religious and moral discussions as one of the seven deadly sins.
How to Pronounce Gluttony
"Her gluttony at the banquet shocked the guests, as she kept piling food onto her plate."
"The novel critiques modern society’s unchecked gluttony, portraying it as a symptom of excess."
"In some temperance circles, gluttony is discussed alongside drinking as a vice to be overcome."
Pronounce as /ˈɡlʌtəni/. Start with a strong, stressed GLU- sound: the /ɡ/ is hard, the /l/ is light where the tongue briefly touches the alveolar ridge. The first vowel is a short, lax /ʌ/ (as in 'strut'). The second syllable is a quick, unstressed /tə/ or /tən/, ending with /i/ though often reduced. Ensure the /t/ is released crisply but not with heavy aspiration. Audio reference: think of ‘GLUT’ + ‘uh-nee’.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (say /ˈɡlɒtəni/ across dialects or stress the second syllable), pronouncing as /ˈɡlaʊtəni/ with a diphthong in /ʌ/, and over-elaborating the second syllable (/tə-nee/). Correct by maintaining primary stress on the first syllable, using a short /ʌ/ for the first vowel, and a short, reduced /ə/ or /ɪ/ in the second syllable, ending clearly with /ni/.
In US/UK/AU, the initial /ɡl/ cluster is consistent. Rhoticity primarily affects the rhythm, not the core vowels. The /ʌ/ in /ˈɡlʌtən/ remains common, but some UK speakers may use a slightly more open /ɒ/ in some dialects, yielding /ˈɡlɒtən/ in non-rhotic speech. The final /i/ often reduces to /ɪ/ or /i/ in careful speech; Australians may have a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable, while Americans tend to a crisper /t/ and a pronounced /ə/ in the middle. Overall, the first syllable stress is stable across accents.
The difficulty lies in the unstressed second syllable and the 'glut' cluster followed by a weak /ən/ ending. The /t/ can be unreleased in rapid speech, and the short /ʌ/ must be distinct from /ɒ/ in some dialects. Learners often distort the /ɡl/ onset or blend /t/ into /n/ when the final /ən/ occurs quickly. Focus on maintaining crisp /t/ release and clear /ni/ at the end, with a stable /ʌ/ in the stressed syllable.
There are no silent letters in gluttony, but the second syllable’s /t/ can be lightly released or nearly silent in fast speech, making it seem like /ˈɡlʌtn̩i/ if rushed. Emphasize the /t/ release to avoid a glottal stop before the /n/ and keep the final /i/ audible. This ensures the word remains distinct from similar forms like 'glutton' (noun) or 'gluttonous' (adjective). Practical tip: practice with a light, crisp /t/ followed by a clear /ən/ before the ending /i/.
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Gluttony comes from the Old French glotonie, from Latin gluttonia, from glutton-, gluten meaning 'glutton' or 'voracious eater.' The Latin root gluttīre means 'to swallow' or 'to gulp down.' The term entered English in the late Middle English period, retaining a moral/temperance connotation linked to excessive eating rather than mere hunger. Over centuries, gluttony evolved from a general description of voracious eating to a formal vice enumerated among the seven deadly sins in medieval Christian theology, where it was contrasted with temperance and self-control. Early uses typically framed gluttony as a moral failing rather than a medical condition, but by the 17th–18th centuries, authors began using it in secular critique of excess in society and cuisine. In contemporary usage, gluttony may refer to a strong appetite in any domain (e.g., gluttony for possessions or information), though the word remains most common in moral or literary contexts. First known English attestations appear in religious and didactic works, echoing the term’s long association with moral admonition about restraint and self-discipline.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Gluttony" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Gluttony"
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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{ "title": "Gluttony Master Guide", "sections": [ { "sectionTitle": "Sound-by-Sound Breakdown", "content": [ "- Phoneme: /ɡ/ (velar stop) – place the tongue against the soft palate; avoid aspirating too much; keep it compact.", "- Phoneme: /l/ – light, alveolar; tip at the alveolar ridge; allow a brief hold before the vowel.", "- Phoneme: /ʌ/ – open-mid back-central; place the jaw slightly dropped; neutral lip position.", "- Phoneme: /t/ – alveolar stop; release crisply; avoid glottalization in careful speech.", "- Phoneme: /ən/ or /ə/ + /n/ – schwa followed by syllabic n or a quick /n/; keep the middle light.", "- Phoneme: /i/ – final close-front unrounded vowel; ensure clarity without elongation."] }, { "sectionTitle": "Accent Variations", "content": [ "- US: rhotic; /ɹ/ not relevant here; ensure the initial nucleus stays open /ʌ/; final /i/ is clear.", "- UK: potential variation /ɒ/ in some dialects; maintain /ʌ/ in stressed syllable.", "- AU: slightly broader vowels; maintain crisp /t/ and a clear final /i/; rhythm slightly flatter."] }, { "sectionTitle": "Practice Sequence", "content": [ "- Minimal pairs: /ˈɡlʌtən/ vs /ˈɡlɒtən/ to anchor nucleus; practice 6x each.", "- Syllable drills: /ˈɡlu/ /tən/ /i/ with 4-count pacing.", "- Slow-normal-fast: 3 rounds; slow (60 BPM), normal (90 BPM), fast (120 BPM).", "- 2 context sentences: 'Gluttony in the tale condemned the characters.'; 'She avoided gluttony by portioning meals.'" ] }, { "sectionTitle": "Mastery Checklist", "content": [ "- Articulatory: stable /gl/ onset, crisp /t/ release, final /i/ audible.", "- Acoustic rhyming: compare ‘gluttony’ with ‘cutlery’ or ‘buttery’; ensure rhyme quality matches across contexts.", "- Stress/rhythm: primary stress on GLUT-, and correct rhythm in sentences involving gluttony."] } ]}
