4 syllables: Li, bi, di, nous. Stress on bi.
lib-ID-uh-nuhs
/lɪˈbɪdənəs/
Libidinous is pronounced lib-ID-uh-nuhs (/lɪˈbɪdənəs/). It has four syllables (Li-bi-di-nous), with the stress on "bi". Libidinous is an adjective describing a person who is driven by or strongly inclined toward lust or sexual desire; it can also imply a lewd or licentious temperament. The term carries a formal or literary tone and is often used in descriptive writing to signal heightened arousal or moral judgment. It’s not commonly used in casual conversation but appears in academic, historical, or verbose prose contexts.
adjectiveLibidinous is an adjective describing a person who is driven by or strongly inclined toward lust or sexual desire; it can also imply a lewd or licentious temperament. The term carries a formal or literary tone and is often used in descriptive writing to signal heightened arousal or moral judgment. It’s not commonly used in casual conversation but appears in academic, historical, or verbose prose contexts.
How to Pronounce Libidinous
"The novella portrays a libidinous aristocrat whose passions override reason."
"Her libidinous thoughts were clear in the charged, suggestive dialogue."
"The detective noted the libidinous undertones of the suspect’s behavior at the party."
Pronounce as li-BID-i-nous. IPA: US/UK/AU /lɪˈbɪdɪnəs/. Start with a short L, then a short i, stress on the second syllable, followed by bid as in bid, a short i, and end with nəss (nəs). Place the tongue high for the /ɪ/ in the second syllable, keep lips relaxed, and finish with a light schwa plus s. An audio reference is available in pronunciation apps and dictionaries for listening practice.
Common errors include misplacing stress (e.g., li-BI-di-nous) or slurring the middle /dɪ/ as a single sound. Another mistake is pronouncing the ending as -noose or -nus with a hard /uː/ instead of the schwa /ə/. Correct by stressing the second syllable, ensuring the /dɪ/ is a clear, short vowel-consonant combination, and finishing with a relaxed /nəs/ rather than a tense or elongated vowel. Listen to native examples to hear the neutral schwa /ə/ in the final syllables.
US/UK/AU share /lɪˈbɪdɪnəs/ with minor vowel quality differences. In some UK varieties, the first /ɪ/ in li- may be slightly clipped and the second /ɪ/ may be a bit shorter; Australians often have a flatter intonation and may vowel-reduce more in casual speech. The final /əs/ tends to be a quick schwa + s in all three, but rhotic accents may slightly color the /ɪ/ before it. Overall, the rhythm centers on the stressed second syllable, with a crisp /d/ in the middle.
Two main challenges: a mid-word /dɪ/ sequence that can blur into a single sound if rushed, and maintaining the neutral schwa in the final -nous; speakers often over-pronounce the middle or slip into /bjɪ/ by analogy with similar-sounding words. Practice by isolating li- /lɪ/ and -noUS /nəs/ while keeping a relaxed jaw, and rehearse the /dɪ/ cluster slowly before connecting to the final /nəs/.
No, there are no silent letters in libidinous. Each syllable contains audible phonemes: li- /lɪ/, -bi- /ˈbɪ/, -di- /dɪ/, -nous /nəs/. The key is not silent letters but achieving the correct rhythm and vowel sounds: a clear second-syllable stress and crisp /d/ consonant between the /ɪ/ vowels. The word’s enunciation hinges on precise vowel timing rather than silent letters.
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Libidinous comes from the Latin word libidin-, meaning “desire, lust,” from libido, “drive, impulse.” The suffix -ous makes it an adjective. The older English usage emerged in the 17th–18th centuries, aligning with moral and psychological discourses about sexual appetite. The root libido has roots in classical Latin, related to pleasure-seeking and appetite in general, and appears in various Romance languages with similar senses (fr. libido in French, deseo in Spanish coming from an analogous Latin root). In English, libidinous has carried a somewhat formal, antiquated nuance, often appearing in scholarly, theological, or literary contexts. Over time, its use has fluctuated, sometimes perceived as archaic, yet it remains useful for precise characterization of sexual drive in literature and historical narratives. The term can imply moral judgment or thematic emphasis on primal desire, rather than a neutral description of sexuality. First known uses are documented in early modern pharmacology and moral treatises, where authors discussed libido as a determinant of behavior, at times linking libidinous traits to vice or virtue depending on the author’s stance. Modern usage tends to convey a more clinical or literary tone, and it’s less common in everyday speech. The word thus carries a weight of diction and period flavor, often signaling a deliberate, sometimes provocative, stylistic choice.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Libidinous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Libidinous"
-ous sounds
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