2 syllables: great, ness. Stress on great.
GRAYT-nuhs
/ˈɡɹeɪtnəs/
greatness is pronounced GRAYT-nuhs (/ˈɡɹeɪtnəs/). It has two syllables (great-ness), with the stress on "great". Greatness refers to the quality or state of being great—significant, admirable, or very notable. It conveys magnitude, impact, and excellence, often tied to achievement or virtue. In usage, it can describe personality, actions, or outcomes that inspire respect or awe.
Greatness refers to the quality or state of being great—significant, admirable, or very notable. It conveys magnitude, impact, and excellence, often tied to achievement or virtue. In usage, it can describe personality, actions, or outcomes that inspire respect or awe.
"Her greatness as a leader shone through during the crisis."
"The team celebrated the greatness of their unlikely victory."
"A lifetime of small, steady efforts culminated in greatness."
Pronounce it as /ˈɡreɪt.nəs/. Start with the stressed first syllable: /ˈɡreɪt/, which sounds like 'great'. Then add a short, unstressed /nəs/. Tip: ensure the /t/ is released clearly before the /n/, avoiding a lingered or swallowed /t/. You can reference a standard pronunciation in dictionaries or pronunciation videos for confirmation.
Common errors include blending the /t/ and /n/ too loosely (causing /ˈɡreɪtnəs/ instead of /ˈɡreɪt.nəs/) and reducing the second syllable too much (saying /ˈɡreɪtnəs/ with a weak /ə/). Another pitfall is pronouncing /ɪ/ instead of the neutral schwa in the second syllable; aim for a quick, unstressed /nəs/ with a light /ə/. Keep the primary stress on the first syllable to preserve meaning.
In US/UK/AU, the initial /ɡreɪt/ cluster remains consistent, but vowel quality can shift slightly: Americans may have a slightly longer diphthong in /eɪ/, while British English can show a tighter /eɪ/ and crisper /t/ release. Australian English tends to be more centralized with a relaxed final /ɪ/ vs. schwa. Overall, rhoticity minimally affects this word since /ɹ/ is not a feature here; vowel and consonant timing dominate.IPA references help verify subtleties.
The difficulty lies in the /t/ release adjacent to the syllabic /n/ boundary, which can blur if you’re not precise, and the final unstressed /əs/ can become a reduced schwa that sounds like /s/ or /ə/. Mastery requires clean boundary between /t/ and /n/ and an understated second syllable with a non-full vowel. Eyeing the mouth position—tongue tip behind upper front teeth for /t/, then a gentle central vowel for /nəs/—helps.
The word’s two-morpheme structure (great + ness) influences pacing and rhythm in speech. You’ll often produce a slight pause or a snappier boundary between the two parts to avoid blending into ‘greatness’ as a longer single unit. This boundary helps preserve the meaning by signaling the base adjective and the abstract noun suffix separately, which is a practical cue in fluent delivery.
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Greatness comes from the adjective great, which derives from Old English great, geat, from Proto-Germanic *greataz, related to Old Norse grötr and Dutch groot. The base meaning centers on size or importance. By the 9th–11th centuries, greatness referred to the quality of being great in power, influence, or achievement. Over time, it broadened into abstract virtue and moral stature, not just physical scale. Middle English usage often linked greatness with noble deeds, leadership, and heroic acts. The noun form arose to encapsulate the measure of excellence or prominence in a person, action, or thing. In modern English, greatness frequently collocates with leadership, innovation, and humanitarian impact, signaling exceptional merit beyond mere abundance.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "greatness" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "greatness" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "greatness"
-ess sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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