Influential

Pronounce as in-FLOO-en-shuhl (IPA US: ɪnˈfluːənʃl, UK: ɪnˈfluːənʃəl, AU: ˌɪnflˈuːənʃəl). Start with a light schwa-ish initial in- then primary stress on the second syllable, followed by a long 'oo' vowel in floo, then the -ən- reduced vowel and a clear -shəl ending. Keep the 'l' light but audible. Think: in-FLOO-en-shuhl.

Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing stress on the first or last syllable; 2) Slurring the -en- into a quick schwa, producing in-FLOO-ən-shəl; 3) Dropping the final -l or making it a vocalic -əl- instead of a clear consonant + l. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable, articulate the -ən- as a light schwa, and finish with a crisp alveolar L. Practice with slow, exaggerated enunciations, then ease into natural speed.

US: clear /ɪnˈfluːənʃl/, rhotic r absent or vowel-pitched; UK: /ɪnˈfluːənʃəl/ with non-rhotic tendency, slightly softer final -əl; AU: /ˌɪnflˈuːɛnʃəl/ with a longer, rounded vowel in floo and less r-coloring. The main differences involve vowel length and rhoticity, with US sometimes sounding slightly tighter and UK/AU offering less prominent r-sound and more clipped final consonants.

The difficulty comes from the sequence of vowels and the -en- cluster: the transition from a stressed long 'oo' to a reduced mid vowel and the final -shl/-tial sound can blur in rapid speech. Also, the -tl- or -tial ending requires precise tongue placement to avoid a nasalized or vowelized ending. Paying attention to the two primary syllables with strong contrast helps: in-FLOO-en-shl.

In fast, careful speech you’ll maintain three syllables with primary stress on -flu- (in-FLOO-en-shl). In very casual connected speech, some speakers may slight reduce the -en- to a schwa and the -l- to a lighter touch, sounding like in-FLOO-ən-shl. However, avoid dropping the -en- entirely in formal or semi-formal contexts to preserve intelligibility and meaning.