2 syllables: home, less. Stress on home.
HOHM-luhs
/ˈhoʊmləs/
homeless is pronounced HOHM-luhs (/ˈhoʊmləs/). It has two syllables (home-less), with the stress on "home". Homeless describes a person lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. It is commonly used to refer to people without stable housing and can denote temporary or chronic housing insecurity. The term emphasizes the condition of lacking permanent shelter rather than a stigma toward the individual.
Homeless describes a person lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. It is commonly used to refer to people without stable housing and can denote temporary or chronic housing insecurity. The term emphasizes the condition of lacking permanent shelter rather than a stigma toward the individual.
- Common error: softening the /l/ or swallowing the /m/ in the /ml/ cluster; correction: hold the /m/ briefly before the /l/ to keep the cluster distinct. - Common error: reducing the first syllable to a schwa without a diphthong; correction: emphasize /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ depending on region, then glide into /m/. - Common error: trailing /s/ blends with following word; correction: enunciate the /s/ crisply, or link to the next word with natural pausing.
"The city opened new shelters to assist homeless families during the harsh winter."
"She volunteered at the shelter to help homeless people access food and healthcare."
"Policy debates often focus on preventing homelessness and expanding affordable housing."
Pronounce as HOH-im-liss in careful speech, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈhoʊmləs/, UK /ˈhəʊmləs/, AU /ˈhɒmləs/. Start with a clear /oʊ/ diphthong (US) or /əʊ/ (UK/AU) in the first syllable, then /m/ + /l/ cluster, ending with the schwa /ə/ and /s/. Imagine saying ‘home’ quickly then add ‘less’.
Common errors include reducing the first syllable too much (pronouncing it as 'hm-ləs'), confusing /oʊ/ with /oʌ/, and misplacing the /l/ in the /ml/ cluster. To correct: keep the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ nucleus clear, maintain a tight /m/ before /l/, and finish with a crisp /ə/ before /s/. Practice saying HO-ML-ess with a slight separation between /m/ and /l/.
In US English, /ˈhoʊmləs/ features a prominent /oʊ/ and rhotic r-lessness after the vowel. In most UK accents, /ˈhəʊmləs/ uses a more centralized /əʊ/ followed by a clear /ml/ cluster; Australian English often has a broader /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ in the first syllable depending on region. The main differences lie in vowel quality and the exact vowel duration of /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/.
The challenge lies in the /ml/ cluster—a rapid transition from /m/ to /l/ without an audible vowel between, which can blur in fluent speech. The first syllable's vowel is a diphthong that shifts with pace or regional accents, sometimes reduced in casual speech, making the word sound like /ˈhɑmləs/ for some learners. Clear articulation of /m/ + /l/ and the final /əs/ is essential.
There are no silent letters in homeless, but the initial syllable carries strong stress. The difficulty is maintaining the /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK/AU) nucleus and keeping the /ml/ sequence distinct. The final /əs/ can be reduced in fast speech to /əs/ or even /əs/ with a very quick /s/, but careful speakers preserve /məsl/ clarity.
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- US: /ˈhoʊmləs/ with strong /oʊ/ and rhotic r quality after the vowel; keep /r/ out of the word itself, but in connected speech, you may hear a light linking into following vowels. - UK: /ˈhəʊmləs/ uses /əʊ/; often a shorter first syllable vowel and crisper /l/ transition. - AU: /ˈhɒmləs/ or /ˈhəʊmləs/ depending on region; some speakers use broader vowel in first syllable; keep /əʊ/ or /ɒ/ quality distinct and avoid reducing /m/ before /l/.
The word homeless originates in Middle English (late 14th century) from the compound of hold (to have, possess) with less (without). It follows a productive pattern in English: a root indicating possession or state (home) plus a negative suffix (less) to form a descriptive adjective. The core noun home has Proto-Germanic origins (hamō), linked to Old English ham, zeigen a domicile or settlement. The sense shift centers on lacking a home rather than simply being away from home. By the 18th and 19th centuries,
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "homeless" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "homeless" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "homeless"
-ess sounds
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