3 syllables: gran, u, lar. Stress on gran.
GRAN-yuh-lur
/ˈɡɹænjəlɚ/
granular is pronounced GRAN-yuh-lur (/ˈɡɹænjəlɚ/). It has three syllables (gran-u-lar), with the stress on "gran". Granular describes something composed of or resembling granules; it emphasizes small, distinct particles or details. In usage, it often qualifiers data, analysis, or materials to indicate a fine, detailed level of granularity. The term is common in technical, scientific, and analytical contexts, and implies meticulous specificity or segmentation rather than bulk generality.
Granular describes something composed of or resembling granules; it emphasizes small, distinct particles or details. In usage, it often qualifiers data, analysis, or materials to indicate a fine, detailed level of granularity. The term is common in technical, scientific, and analytical contexts, and implies meticulous specificity or segmentation rather than bulk generality.
"The dataset was analyzed at a granular level, revealing subtle trends obscured in the aggregate."
"Researchers collected granular soil samples to assess texture and composition."
"We need granular feedback on the draft to address every minor issue."
Pronounce as /ˈɡræn.ju.lɚ/ (US) or /ˈɡræn.jʊ.lə/ (UK/AU). Start with GRAN (rhymes with ‘gran’), then the unstressed ‘you’ approximated as /ju/ or /jʊ/ in UK/AU, and finish with a schwa + ‘lɚ’ (US) or a light /lə/ (UK/AU). Keep the main stress on the first syllable. Audio examples: Cambridge, Oxford, Forvo entries.
Common errors: (1) Dropping the second syllable or turning /ju/ into a simple /uː/; keep the /ju/ sequence. (2) Misplacing the stress, saying ‘GRAN-u-lar’ with uneven emphasis; ensure primary stress on the first syllable. (3) Mispronouncing the final schwa as a full vowel; in many accents the last syllable is reduced to /ə/ or /ɚ/. Correct by practicing the three-syllable rhythm: GRAN-gyuh-lər, with a quick, light second syllable and a weak final vowel.
US: /ˈɡræn.ju.lɚ/ with rhotic /ɹ/ in the final syllable and a pronounced /ju/. UK: /ˈɡræn.jʊ.lə/ with non-rhotic or lightly rhotic endings; final /ə/ is lighter. AU: typically /ˈɡræn.jʊ.lə/ similar to UK, often with a clearer /ɪ/ in the second vowel depending on speaker. The main differences: rhoticity in US vs. non-rhotic tendencies in UK/AU; vowel quality of /ju/ vs /jʊ/; final vowel reductions vary by speaker and register.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable structure with a strong initial stress and a rapid, light second syllable containing /ju/ or /jʊ/ that merges into a weak final /lər/ or /lə/. Learners often mispronounce /ju/ as /uː/ or slide into a full vowel in the last syllable. Mastery requires practicing the vowel pair /ju/ vs /jʊ/, maintaining even timing across three syllables, and reducing the final vowel to a quick schwa.
Granular doesn’t feature a challenging consonant cluster; the tricky part is the mid syllable /ju/ sequence and the final /lɚ/ or /lə/. Pay attention to the transition from /j/ to /u/ (or /ʊ/) and ensure the /l/ begins with the tongue contacting the alveolar ridge, followed by a relaxed, neutral vowel in the coda. Focus on keeping the /n/ clear before the /j/ to avoid slurring.
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Granular comes from the Latin granulum, meaning a small grain or seed, diminutive of granum ‘grain.’ The English form granular appeared in the late 18th to early 19th century under scientific and descriptive usage. The root gran- derives from granum, with related terms such as granular, granulate, and granularity. The adjective granular originally described material consisting of grains (physics, geology) and later broadened to mean fine detail or discrete components in data and analysis. Over time, its usage expanded from physical substrates—soil, sand, powders—to abstract domains like information systems, research methods, and user interfaces, where “granularity” denotes the resolution or level of detail. First known uses appear in natural philosophy and chemistry texts, reflecting a shift from tangible grain-like particles to metaphorical, analytical detail. In modern technical writing, granular is a standard term for describing fine segmentation and precise control over small units within a larger whole.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "granular" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "granular"
-lar sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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