4 syllables: Las, ci, vi, ous. Stress on ci.
luh-SIV-ee-uhs
/ləˈsɪviəs/
Lascivious is pronounced luh-SIV-ee-uhs (/ləˈsɪviəs/). It has four syllables (Las-ci-vi-ous), with the stress on "ci". Lascivious is an adjective describing an overt, often unapologetic, and lewd worldly or sexual suggestiveness. It conveys a strong sexual interest that is provocative or disapproving, typically in behavior, expressions, or content. The term carries a formal or literary tone and is frequently used in legal, moral, or critical discussion rather than casual speech.
nounLascivious is an adjective describing an overt, often unapologetic, and lewd worldly or sexual suggestiveness. It conveys a strong sexual interest that is provocative or disapproving, typically in behavior, expressions, or content. The term carries a formal or literary tone and is frequently used in legal, moral, or critical discussion rather than casual speech.
"Her lascivious comments made the committee uncomfortable."
"The novel portrays a lascivious atmosphere that clings to the gossip-ridden town."
"He was charged with lascivious acts, prompting a public outcry."
Pronounce as LAS-uh-vee-us with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US: lӕˈsɪv.i.əs or læˈsɪv.i.əs; UK: ˈlæsɪviəs; AU: ˈlæsɪviəs. Start with the /l/ followed by /æ/ (as in cat), then /s/ and /ɪ/ in the second syllable, then /v/ and the /i/ as a short vowel, and end with /əs/. Focus on a crisp, quick first syllable and a lighter, unstressed final.”
Common errors include misplacing the stress (treating it as second syllable), mispronouncing the second vowel as a long /iː/ instead of /ɪ/, and softening or omitting the /v/ or the final /əs/. Correct by: (1) placing primary stress on the first syllable LAS-, (2) using a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable LI- as in siv-, not /iː/, and (3) ending with a clear schwa /ə/ followed by /s/ to avoid an extra syllable. Practice with slow, deliberate syllable separation before speed.”
US tends to have /læˈsɪv.i.əs/ with a clear /æ/ in the first syllable and rhotic influence less relevant. UK typically /ˈlæsɪviəs/ with a crisp /æ/ and non-rhotic /r/ absence. Australian often mirrors UK but with slightly flatter overall vowel height and a tendency toward a shorter /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Pay attention to rhoticity, vowel length, and the subtle difference between /ə/ and /ɪ/ in the final syllable.”
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic stress pattern and the blend of vowels in quick succession: /læˈsɪv.i.əs/. The second syllable uses a short /ɪ/ that can collide with /v/ and the final /əs/ reduces to a quick schwa-plus-s. Non-native speakers often misplace the primary stress or substitute /ɪ/ with /iː/ or mispronounce /v/ as /f/. Focus on tight jaw position, clear /ɪ/ timing, and a crisp /v/ before the final schwa.”
A distinctive note is the syllable cluster -sci-: the 'sciv' portion is pronounced quickly as /sɪv/ with a short /ɪ/ and a soft but audible /v/ before the /iəs/ tail. Do not elide the /v/ sound; keep it as a crisp stop before the /i/ vowel of the next syllable and avoid turning the /i/ into /iː/. The initial LAS- should be crisp with a short open /æ/ and a clear /l/.”
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Lascivious comes from the Middle English lascivius, adapted from the Latin lascīvus, meaning ‘playful, wanton, lustful.’ The Latin root lascīvus derives from lascēre, meaning ‘to be wanton or to lust.’ The word appears in English during the 14th–15th centuries, often in legal or theological contexts to describe lewd behavior or sexual impropriety. Over time, its usage broadened to describe general suggestiveness in actions, language, or imagery, while retaining a formal or condemnatory nuance. The semantic field centers on unrestrained sexuality and explicitness, distinguishing it from more neutral terms like erotic or sensual in settings where moral judgment or propriety is implicated. The term has remained relatively precise in register, resisting casual slang substitution and preserving its literary weight in censorship debates, moral discourse, and classic literature. First known uses appear in medieval and early modern texts, where clerical and moral authors employed lascivious to condemn or caution against behavior considered sinful. In modern usage, the word still signals disapproval of sexuality that is perceived as excessive, intrusive, or improper for a given context, particularly in media, law, and cultural critique.
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Words that rhyme with "Lascivious"
-ous sounds
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