4 syllables: In, con, gru, ous. Stress on con.
ing-KAWNG-roo-uhs
/ˌɪˈŋkɔŋɹuəs/
Incongruous is pronounced ing-KAWNG-roo-uhs (/ˌɪˈŋkɔŋɹuəs/). It has four syllables (In-con-gru-ous), with the stress on "con". Incongruous is an adjective describing something that does not fit well with its surroundings or expectations; appearing out of place or inconsistent. It conveys a sense of mismatch or lack of harmony within a context, often provoking surprise or amusement. The word emphasizes disharmony between elements, not merely difference. Note: your provided word classification as a noun is incorrect; standard usage treats incongruous as an adjective or sometimes as a noun in rare, abstract senses.
nounIncongruous is an adjective describing something that does not fit well with its surroundings or expectations; appearing out of place or inconsistent. It conveys a sense of mismatch or lack of harmony within a context, often provoking surprise or amusement. The word emphasizes disharmony between elements, not merely difference. Note: your provided word classification as a noun is incorrect; standard usage treats incongruous as an adjective or sometimes as a noun in rare, abstract senses.
"The bright neon sign looked incongruous beside the ancient medieval storefront."
"Her solemn demeanor was incongruous with the light-hearted party atmosphere."
"The modern sculpture felt incongruous among the classical statues."
Pronounce as IN-kən-GROO-us, with primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌɪn.kənˈɡruː.əs/ (US, UK). The first syllable is a short 'in', the second syllable 'kən' uses a schwa, the stress lands on 'GROO', and the final 'ous' is 'əs' in many accents. Practice by saying 'in' + 'con' + 'grue' + 'us' with emphasis on 'grue'. Audio references you can consult include Forvo and pronunciation sections in Cambridge/Oxford dictionaries; Pronounce also hosts speaker-pronunciations for this word.
Common errors: misplacing the primary stress on the first or second syllable (e.g., IN-con-GROO-us vs. in-CON-gruous). Another frequent error is mispronouncing the final -ous as 'us' with a heavy syllable, instead of the reduced 'əs' in many dialects. Correction: keep the main stressed syllable on the third syllable: IN-kən-GROO-us, with final 'ous' as /əs/. Practice the sequence slowly: /ˌɪn.kənˈɡruː.əs/ and record yourself to confirm the 'groo' is prominent and the 'us' is lightly pronounced.
Across accents, the main differences are in the vowel of the second syllable and the final -ous. US/UK have similar primary stress on the third syllable, but UK may slightly lengthen the final 'us' to a less reduced /əs/ and US common practice aligns with /əs/. Australian tends to flatter the middle vowel and may reduce the final syllable more strongly, sometimes sounding like /ˈɪn.kənˈɡruː.əs/ with a tighter final vowel. Also, rhotics differ: US rhotics attach r-like sound in ‘groo’, while non-rhotic UK may drop postvocalic r in rapid speech, affecting rhythm but not the core syllable peak.
The difficulty comes from the multi-syllabic structure with three stressed positions: primary stress on the third syllable and a secondary stress pattern that can be misread as inconGRUous or inCORn-gruous. The consonant cluster 'congr' combines a k + ng + r, and the 'gr' sequence can tempt a hard 'gr' vs a soft 'groo' vowel. Additionally, the final unstressed 'ous' often reduces to /əs/ in fluent speech, which some learners miss if they over-pronounce. Focus on the tripartite rhythm: IN - kən - GROO - əs.
There are no silent letters in incongruous. Each letter participates in producing the syllables IN-kən-GROO-us. The challenge is not silent letters but correct vowel quality, especially the schwa in the second syllable and the final reduced vowel. Ensure you articulate every phoneme: /ɪ/ in the first, /kən/ with a reduced schwa, /ˈɡruː/ with a long 'oo' in many accents, and /əs/ or /əs/ at the end.
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Incongruous comes from the prefix in- (not) + congruous, which derives from Latin congruus meaning appropriate, fit, or agreeing. Congruus itself comes from com- (together, with) and -rugnus (to fit, suitable), reflecting a sense of fitting together. The form congruous emerged in English by the late Middle Ages, carrying the meaning of agreement or harmony. The negative- prefix in- shifts that to the sense of not fitting or not matching. The root congru- ties to mathematical and logical notions of agreement, harmony, or alignment, which carried over into everyday usage describing things that don’t align with expectations, standards, or surroundings. First known use in English appears in the 17th century, with early literary examples illustrating a lack of fit between elements in a scene or argument. Over time, incongruous broadened to describe anything that seems out of place, whether stylistic, moral, or situational, rather than merely illogical. The word has remained common in formal writing and rhetorical critique, often signaling irony or gentle humor when a mismatch is perceived.
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Words that rhyme with "Incongruous"
-ous sounds
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