3 syllables: Hu, mor, ous. Stress on Hu.
HYOO-mur-uhs
/ˈhjuː.mɚ.əs/
Humorous is pronounced HYOO-mur-uhs (/ˈhjuː.mɚ.əs/). It has three syllables (Hu-mor-ous), with the stress on "Hu". Humorous (adj.) describes something that is funny or amusing, often in a light, entertaining way. It denotes a quality that provokes laughter or amusement, sometimes with wit or playful exaggeration. The term can refer to people, stories, or remarks that elicit smiles and laughter in a lighthearted context.
adjectiveHumorous (adj.) describes something that is funny or amusing, often in a light, entertaining way. It denotes a quality that provokes laughter or amusement, sometimes with wit or playful exaggeration. The term can refer to people, stories, or remarks that elicit smiles and laughter in a lighthearted context.
- You may over-round the initial 'juː' leading to a 'hyo͞o' sound; correct by relaxing the lips and keeping it as a tight 'juː' with a clear start from /h/. - Another frequent error is misplacing stress on the second syllable ('hu-MOR-ous'); fix by thinking of the root syllable as the strongest beat and keeping the rest unstressed. - Some learners drop the final unstressed '-rous' too quickly; ensure a short, even ending with a barely audible 'ə-rəs' or 'ɹəs' depending on accent. Practice with gentle, even tempo to preserve rhythm and avoid clipping.
"Her humorous anecdotes had the whole room laughing."
"The comedian delivered a humorous routine that won thunderous applause."
"We appreciated her humorous take on the situation, which helped ease tension."
Pronounce it as /ˈhjuː.mə.rəs/ in US and AU accents, and /ˈhjuː.mə.rəs/ in UK English as well, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a 'hyoo' sound (h + long 'u' as in 'huge'), then a schwa syllable 'mə', and finish with a soft 'rəs' (British non-rhotic accents may have a much weaker final 'r'). Visualize the sequence: HYOO-muh-ruhs. Slightly round the lips for the 'juː' vowel and keep the tongue high-mid for 'ə'.
Common errors: 1) Dropping the second syllable vowel, producing 'hjuː-mə-rous' with a reduced second vowel; 2) Misplacing stress on the second syllable, saying 'hu-MO-rəs'; 3) Slurring the final '-rous' as '-rus' or too strongly pronouncing the final 'r'. Correction: maintain primary stress on the first syllable, keep 'mə' as a neutral schwa, and finish with a light, rhotic or non-rhotic 'rəs' depending on accent, ensuring the final syllable remains unstressed and fast.
US/AU: rhotacized final 'r' in most dialects, with /ˈhjuː.mə.rəs/ and clear 'r'. UK: /ˈhjuː.mə.rəs/ with non-rhotic tendency; final 'r' is weak or silent; the 'juː' cluster is emphasized. Australian tends to merge vowels similarly to US but with slightly shorter overall vowel duration and a broader 'ə' in the second syllable. The key differences lie in rhoticity and vowel length: US/AU retain a stronger 'r' after the schwa, UK often weakens it, but the first syllable maintains /ˈhjuː/ across all.
The challenge sits in the three-syllable rhythm with initial heavy stress and the 'juː' cluster transitioning into a quick, unstressed '-mərəs' tail. The 'juː' is a tense, rounded vowel that can trip speakers on non-native lips, while the schwa in 'mə' is short and quick. Additionally, subtle rhoticity or its absence affects the final sound. Practicing the exact sequence /ˈhjuː.mə.rəs/ with controlled pace helps stabilize the transition between the syllables and reduce vowel reduction errors.
The word requires maintaining a clear initial 'h' and 'juː' sequence without letting it glide into a 'hiya' or 'you-museum' mispronunciation. Focus on keeping the primary stress on the first syllable and ensuring the final 'rəs' remains light and quick rather than a heavy 'rus'. Practicing with phrases like 'humorous anecdote' will reinforce the natural flow and help you avoid overemphasizing the dramatic second syllable.
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Humorous comes from the Middle English humorous, derived from the noun humor, in the sense of a bodily fluid believed to influence temperament. The root is Latin humor, from Greek chymos, meaning juice or liquid. In classical theory, bodily humors influenced personality and mood; ‘humorous’ described those influenced by humor, meaning full of humor or funny. By the 17th century, English usage broadened to refer to something that excites laughter or is witty. Over time, the word retained the core idea of amusing quality, though modern usage is less tied to medical or temperamental connotations and more to entertainment value. First known uses appear in early modern English texts discussing wit and comedic content, with evolving nuance toward general amusement rather than medical theory. In contemporary usage, humorous emphasizes light-hearted, entertaining humor that is approachable rather than aggressively funny.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Humorous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Humorous"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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