4 syllables: Gra, tu, i, tous. Stress on tu.
gruh-TOO-uh-tuhs
/ɡɹəˈtuətəs/
Gratuitous is pronounced gruh-TOO-uh-tuhs (/ɡɹəˈtuətəs/). It has four syllables (Gra-tu-i-tous), with the stress on "tu". Gratuitous is an adjective meaning given freely, unearned, or unwarranted, often implying excess or unnecessary critique or violence. It describes something excessive or unnecessary, especially when more is added than is appropriate or justified. In usage, it commonly modifies nouns like violence, remarks, or criticism, signaling lack of necessity or restraint.
nounGratuitous is an adjective meaning given freely, unearned, or unwarranted, often implying excess or unnecessary critique or violence. It describes something excessive or unnecessary, especially when more is added than is appropriate or justified. In usage, it commonly modifies nouns like violence, remarks, or criticism, signaling lack of necessity or restraint.
- Misplacing stress on the first syllable (GRA-tu-itous instead of gra-TUI-tious). This makes the word sound flat and unfamiliar. To fix, rehearse the second-syllable peak using a strong, steady /tuː/ followed by a clear /ɪ/ before /tʃuəs/. - Slurring /tuːɪ/ into /tɪ/ or mispronouncing the /tju/ sequence as /tuj/; practice the distinct /tuːɪ/ or /tjuːɪ/ transition so the /t/ and /j/ are crisp before /uəs/. - Final cluster misarticulation: dropping the /tʃ/ or mispronouncing /uəs/ as /əs/; ensure you articulate the /tʃ/ clearly and finish with the rounded /uəs/ or light /əs/ depending on accent. - General vowel shortening in unstressed syllables, which can flatten the second syllable; keep the /tuː/ long and the /ɪ/ decisive before /tʃ/. - Rolling the r (US) or over-drying in UK; keep a neutral non-rhotic r in non-rhotic environments unless you’re explicitly using rhotic US style.
How to Pronounce Gratuitous
"The film was criticized for its gratuitous violence."
"She raised a gratuitous insult, not meant to convey any real point."
"The report included gratuitous details that distracted from the main findings."
Pronounce as grə-TOO-i-təs in US/UK practice, with primary stress on the second syllable: /ɡrəˈtuːɪtʃuəs/ (US) or /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtjəs/ (UK). The key is a clear /tuː/ vowel, then a light /ɪ/ before the final /tʃuəs/ cluster. For audio reference, think of a slow, three-beat flow: grə-TOO-ɪ-tyəs. Mouth positions: start with a relaxed /ɡr/ release, then a tense high back vowel for /uː/, and finish with /tʃuəs/ where the tongue approaches the palate for the affricate /tʃ/.
Common errors include swaying the stress to the first syllable (gra-TOO-itch-əs) or replacing the /tuː/ with a short /u/ sound. Another pitfall is blending /tjuː/ into an erred /tjə/ or misarticulating the final /əəs/ as a plain /əs/. Correction tips: keep primary stress on the second syllable, produce a clear /tuː/ vowel before the /ɪ/ and /tʃ/ sequence, and finish with a crisp /uəs/ or /uəs/ sequence depending on accent. Record yourself and compare to /ɡrəˈtuːɪtʃuəs/.
In US English, you’ll hear /ɡrəˈtuːɪtʃuəs/ with rhotic r and a strong /tuː/. UK often shows /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtjəs/ with a slightly palatalized onset and possibly reduced /ɪ/ before /t/; the r is non-rhotic, so /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtjəs/ without rhotic /r/. Australian tends toward /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtjəs/ similar to UK but with a flatter vowels and a more tapped or approximant /j/ in the /tj/ sequence. In all, the critical differences are rhoticity and the exact vowel quality in /tuː/ vs /tjuː/.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic, three-vowel sequence with a secondary stage /tuːɪ/ that blends into /tʃuəs/. The tricky parts are the long /uː/ vowel, the /tju/ vs /tuːj/ combination, and the final /əs/ or /əs/ cluster following /tʃ/. Additionally, regional variations shift the r-color or vowel length, so maintaining the primary stress on the second syllable while preserving a crisp /tʃ/ can be challenging.
A useful nuance is that the sequence /tuːɪ/ can be perceived as a quick /tjuːɪ/ in some accents, which makes the second syllable feel heavier. Practice aiming for /tuː/ before a lighter /ɪ/ and keep /tʃ/ distinct from /ʃ/. Also, ensure the /ɔ/ or /oʊ/? No, the standard is /tuːɪ/ as a diphthong sequence followed by /tʃuəs/; the final /əs/ can reduce to /əs/ in fast speech. The core is placing primary stress on the second syllable and maintaining the /tʃ/ sound clearly.
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- US: Maintain a rhotic /r/ in surrounding syllables; keep /tuː/ lengthened and the /ɪ/ as a light schwa-like sound before the /tʃ/ cluster. IPA reference: /ɡrəˈtuːɪtʃuəs/; emphasize the second syllable peak with a crisp /tuː/. - UK: Often non-rhotic; /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtjəs/ or /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs/ with less pronounced /r/. The /tj/ sequence is close to /tʃ/; ensure you articulate the /t/ and palatal glide /j/ before /uː/. - AU: Similar to UK, tends toward /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtjəs/ with slightly flatter vowels and less overt r-coloring. Focus on the /juː/ color and maintain the /tʃ/ clarity at the end.
Gratuitous comes from the Old French gratuit, meaning 'a gift' or 'given freely,' derived from Latin gratuitus, from gratus meaning 'pleasing' or 'grateful.' The sense evolution moved from describing something given as a gift to describing actions or remarks given without needing basis, often with a negative or excessive connotation. In English, gratuitous first appeared in the 16th century in contexts of something being unnecessary or uncalled-for. The word carried the sense of generosity or free providing, but by the modern era it commonly signals excess or unwarranted additions, especially in media (gratuitous violence) or commentary. Over time, the nuance broadened to imply lack of restraint or justification, sometimes with moral judgment, while retaining the original root idea of “given freely.”
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Words that rhyme with "Gratuitous"
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