2 syllables: Gor, geous. Stress on Gor.
GAWR-juhs
/ˈɡɔɹdʒəs/
Gorgeous is pronounced GAWR-juhs (/ˈɡɔɹdʒəs/). It has two syllables (Gor-geous), with the stress on "Gor". Gorgeous is an adjective describing striking beauty or charm, often conveying vivid appeal. It emphasizes exceptional attractiveness in people, objects, or scenes. The word carries a warm, enthusiastic tone and can function as a compliment or descriptive label in descriptive prose and everyday conversation.
adjectiveGorgeous is an adjective describing striking beauty or charm, often conveying vivid appeal. It emphasizes exceptional attractiveness in people, objects, or scenes. The word carries a warm, enthusiastic tone and can function as a compliment or descriptive label in descriptive prose and everyday conversation.
- You often drop the /ɔː/ length, making the word sound like /ɡɔrdʒəs/ with a shorter vowel. Ensure the /ɔː/ is held long enough before /dʒ/ to maintain the word’s core. - Mispronouncing /dʒ/ as /dj/ or /j/, leading to a softer sound; keep the tight, crisp /dʒ/ burst. - The final /əs/ can be reduced to /əs/ or /əs/; practice with a light, quick schwa. - Stress should be on the first syllable; avoid shifting stress to the second syllable in casual speech. Actionable tips: exaggerate initial vowel length in practice, then dial back to natural speed; use minimal pairs to train mouth positions; practice in phrases with clear rhythm to reinforce timing.
"That sunset over the ocean was absolutely gorgeous."
"She wore a dress that looked gorgeous on her."
"What a gorgeous view from the hilltop—bright and expansive."
Gorgeous is pronounced with two syllables: GORJ-əs. IPA: US /ˈɡɔrdʒəs/, UK /ˈɡɔːdʒəs/, AU /ˈɡɔːdʒəs/. Start with the stressed /ɔː/ vowel, then a voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/ as in 'judge', and finish with a light /əs/ ending. Your mouth should open for /ɔː/ and glide into /dʒ/ with the tongue touching the post-alveolar region. Finish with a relaxed, short /ə/ or /ɪ/ depending on speed. Audio examples: listen to native speakers pronouncing “gorgeous” in phrases for natural rhythm.
Two common mistakes: (1) Flattening the /ɔː/ into a short /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ as in ‘got’, making it sound wobbly. Correct by sustaining the open-mid back vowel longer before the /dʒ/. (2) Mispronouncing /dʒ/ as a simple /j/ or /tʃ/; keep the affricate sound with a crisp /d/ release followed by /ʒ/ quality. Practice with minimal pairs: /ˈɡɔːdʒəs/ vs /ˈɡɔːdʒəs/ with clear /dʒ/ and final schwa.
US pronunciation centers on /ˈɡɔːrdʒəs/ with a rhotics-friendly /ɹ/ in some speakers. UK tends toward /ˈɡɔːdʒəs/ with a longer /ɔː/ and non-rhoticity in careful speech. Australian typically uses /ˈɡɔːdʒəs/ with broad, longer vowel, and a smoother /dʒ/ transition. Notice that US rhotics can color the following vowel slightly (rocking /ɹ/ influence), while UK and AU often lack an explicit rhotic vowel after /dʒ/. Listen for the /ɔː/ quality and the crisp /dʒ/ burst.
The challenge lies in maintaining the long open-mid back vowel /ɔː/ before the /dʒ/ cluster and delivering a precise affricate /dʒ/. The transition from vowel to consonant is quick, so control over tongue height and lip rounding matters. Additionally, the unstressed final /əs/ can reduce to a schwa, which may blur if you speak too quickly. Focus on keeping the /ɔː/ length and a crisp /dʒ/ release, even when finishing with a light /ə/.
A unique consideration for 'Gorgeous' is the way the second syllable ends in a soft, unstressed /əs/ that can sound like /əs/ or /əz/. This final cluster influences the preceding /dʒ/ by requiring a short stop release before settling into the vowel. In careful speech, you can practice by lengthening the first syllable slightly and letting the last /ə/ be a relaxed, quick schwa. This helps you avoid over-articulating the final syllable and keeps the word sounding natural.
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- US: /ˈɡɔɹdʒəs/ with rhotic influence; ensure /ɹ/ is subtle and non-rhotic in careful speech; keep /ɔː/ long, then /dʒ/ crisp. - UK: /ˈɡɔːdʒəs/ with longer /ɔː/, less rhoticity; tongue positions similar but with a flatter vowel and softer postvocalic coloring. - AU: /ˈɡɔːdʒəs/ generally broad vowels, relaxed jaw; practice maintaining consistent /ɔː/ length and a clean /dʒ/ release. Reference IPA: US /ˈɡɔɹdʒəs/, UK /ˈɡɔːdʒəs/, AU /ˈɡɔːdʒəs/. - Tips: keep lips rounded for /ɔː/, avoid spread lip vowel, ensure alveolar ridge contact for /dʒ/, practice releasing into a light schwa.
Gorgeous originates from the Middle English word gorgeos, which itself stems from the Old French gorgeus, derived from gorge (throat, gullet), and ultimately linked to the Latin cor, cordis (heart) through the sense of something that catches the eye and delights the heart. The sense broadened from “glorious, splendid” to “beautiful, splendid to behold.” By the 14th century, it carried the nuance of something that causes delight and admiration rather than mere physical beauty. In Early Modern English usage, gorgeous could describe not only beauty but also sumptuousness, richness of decoration, or grand spectacle. Over time, the meaning shifted toward describing things aesthetically pleasing or strikingly attractive in everyday language, while “gorgeous” retains a cheerful emphasis on vivid, appealing quality. First known use appears in literary contexts around the 14th century, with more consistent attestation by the 15th–16th centuries as a common descriptor of beauty and splendor. Historically, the word traveled from French into English during the Norman and Plantagenet periods, carrying courtly, elevated connotations before becoming a standard adjective in modern usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Gorgeous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Gorgeous"
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