4 syllables: Gran, di, lo, quous. Stress on lo.
gran-dil-UH-kwuhs
/ɡɹændɪˈləkwəs/
Grandiloquous is pronounced gran-dil-UH-kwuhs (/ɡɹændɪˈləkwəs/). It has four syllables (Gran-di-lo-quous), with the stress on "lo". Grandiloquous is an adjective describing speech or style that is pompously lofty or extravagantly grand in manner or language. It often conveys an air of ostentation, using elaborate diction and rhetorical flourishes. The term typically carries a critical nuance, implying pretentious or showy expression rather than genuine substance.
adjectiveGrandiloquous is an adjective describing speech or style that is pompously lofty or extravagantly grand in manner or language. It often conveys an air of ostentation, using elaborate diction and rhetorical flourishes. The term typically carries a critical nuance, implying pretentious or showy expression rather than genuine substance.
"Her grandiloquous oration sounded impressive, but the audience struggled to follow the argument."
"The novelist’s grandiloquous prose overwhelmed the plot with ornate descriptions."
"A few grandiloquous phrases can elevate a speech, but overuse risks sounding affected."
Break it as gran-DIL-oq-u-ous with the primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌɡræn.dɪˈlɔː.kjuː.əs/ (US/UK) and /ˌɡræn.dɪˈlɒk.juː.əs/ (UK). Start with /ˈɡræn/ (gran) then /dɪ/ (di), then the stressed /ˈlɔː/ or /ˈlɒk/ depending on accent, followed by /juː/ (you) and /əs/ (əs). Keep the tongue high for /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ and glide into /juː/ smoothly. Audio reference: you can hear natural pronunciation on Pronounce or Forvo by searching ‘grandiloquous.’
Common errors: (1) Misplacing the primary stress on the wrong syllable, often saying grand-IL-oh-queous; (2) compressing /ˈlɔː/ into a short /lɔ/ or mispronouncing the /kjuː/ as /kjuː/ combined; (3) swallowing the /d/ in -dil- or mispronouncing /ɡrændɪˈlɒk.ju.əs/ as /ˈɡrændɪlɒˈkjuəs/. Corrections: practice with the stress on the third syllable gran-di-LA-kyoo-us, ensure a clear /l/ before the /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ and glide into /juː/ before /əs/. Use minimal pairs to align the r-controlled vowel and the /j/ sound.
US: r-colored /ɹ/ after initial syllable and a clear /ɔː/ in stressed syllable; UK: non-rhotic; /ɔː/ may be broader and less vowel-lengthened; AU: similar to UK but with Australian vowel flattening and slightly tinged non-rhoticity; watch /juː/ as a close back vowel transitioning to /əs/. Overall focus on the central /lɔː/ vs /lɒk/ and the /juː/ glide before the final /əs/.
The challenge lies in the multi-syllabic cadence and stressed mid-syllable cluster: gran-di-LO-quo-us. The /j/ glide before /uː/ and the final /əs/ can trip speakers, especially when a rapid speech tempo reduces clarity of the /lɔː/ vs /lɒk/ distinction. Also maintaining the secondary stress pattern and ensuring a crisp /d/ without blending into /n/ requires fine-tuned articulation.
Yes, the key unique feature is the stressed syllable before the final -ous ending: gran-di-LO-quous? The standard stress pattern places the primary emphasis on the third-to-last syllable in many dialects, with the /juː/ glide preceding the final /əs/. This makes the word sound pompous even before the ending, so you should articulate the /l/ and /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ clearly to maintain the word’s grandiloquent character.
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Grandiloquous comes from Latin grandiloquus, formed from grandis (great, grand) + loqui (to speak). The word entered English in the late 17th to early 18th century, aligning with a period of heightened interest in rhetorical critique and classical diction. Grandis contributed the sense of “great” or “grand,” while loqui provided the root meaning “to speak.” In English, -loquous reflects a Latin-based adjective formation akin to -loquy or -loquous in other terms like loquacious. Initially, grandiloquy referred to grandiloquent style in oratory or writing, often with a critical edge implying florid, inflated speech. Over time, grandiloquous broadened to describe not only spoken language but any artful, ostentatious expression, including prose, poetry, or public discourse. The word is relatively uncommon in everyday usage and is more likely found in literary criticism or formal critique. Its first known uses appear in scholarly or rhetorical contexts, where authors highlighted the disparity between grandiloquent rhetoric and substantive argument. Today, grandiloquous remains a precise descriptor for deliberately elaborate or pompous diction, frequently used with a negative or humorous tone to signal overbearing style. Its usage tends to cluster in discussions of rhetoric, speechwriting, and stylistic analysis.
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Words that rhyme with "Grandiloquous"
-ous sounds
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