2 syllables: lo, cus. Stress on lo.
LOH-kuhs
/ˈloʊkəs/
locus is pronounced LOH-kuhs (/ˈloʊkəs/). It has two syllables (lo-cus), with the stress on "lo". Locus refers to a particular place, position, or location. In mathematics or logic, it denotes the set of points satisfying a given condition. The term can also describe a central or primary focus in a discussion or field of study.
Locus refers to a particular place, position, or location. In mathematics or logic, it denotes the set of points satisfying a given condition. The term can also describe a central or primary focus in a discussion or field of study.
"The locus of points equidistant from the two foci forms a hyperbola."
"In biology, the locus of a gene on a chromosome determines its inherited traits."
"The writer returned to the locus of the argument, where the core issue remained unresolved."
Pronounce it LOH-kus (US) or LOH-kəs with the second syllable reduced /-kəs/. The primary stress is on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈloʊ.kəs/, UK /ˈləʊ.kəs/, AU /ˈləʊ.kəs/. Tip: open your mouth wider for /oʊ/ on the first syllable, then relax the second syllable to a schwa in most varieties. Audio reference: listeners often compare to ‘focus’ but with a shorter second vowel.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the second syllable as /loʊ.kəs/ with equal emphasis; keep the second syllable reduced to /-kəs/. (2) Misplacing the stress as LOH-kus vs loh-KUS in some influenced speech; ensure primary stress on first syllable: /ˈloʊ.kəs/. (3) Pronouncing /lɒ/ or /luː/ in the first vowel in British circles; aim for the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ diphthong depending on accent. Correction: practice with minimal pairs like “locus” vs “focus” to hear the final unstressed vowel.
US tends toward /ˈloʊ.kəs/ with a clear /oʊ/ and a lighter final unstressed /ə/; UK often uses /ˈləʊ.kəs/ with a slightly more centralized starting vowel and a shortened final /kəs/. Australian tends to /ˈləʊ.kəs/ similar to UK but with broader vowel qualities and less rhoticity influence in some speakers, though the final /kəs/ remains. In all, the second syllable is unstressed and reduced; rhoticity affects the first vowel quality subtly.
Two main challenges: (1) The first vowel carries a tense, rising diphthong that shifts subtly by accent: US /oʊ/ vs UK/AU /əʊ/. (2) The final unstressed syllable /-əs/ or /-kəs/ can reduce to a near-schwa, which can blur in rapid speech. Paying attention to keeping a crisp /k/ before the final /əs/ helps maintain clarity. Conscious practice with minimal pairs helps lock the contrasts.
The word’s typical English pronunciation centers stress on the first syllable and a short, reduced final syllable. A helpful specificity: in careful speech you’ll hear a slightly tensed first vowel in US /ˈloʊ.kəs/ compared to more rounded /ˈləʊ.kəs/ in UK/AU, with the second syllable approximated as /kəs/ rather than /kus/. Remember the plural loci is often pronounced /ˈloʊ.kjː/ or /ˈloʊ.saɪz/ in some dialects, but most speakers keep /ˈloʊ.kəs/ in casual use.
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Locus comes from Latin, where it literally means “place.” In Latin, loci is the plural; locus remained in English with senses tied to position or place. The earliest English uses appear in scholastic and scientific contexts as a literal place or position within a space, map, or system. The geometric sense—set of points satisfying a condition—developed with the study of geometry and later mathematical logic. Through the 17th–19th centuries, locus broadened to describe abstract “places” within discussions, sets, or networks, a usage that persists in modern mathematics (locus of a point), genetics (locus on a chromosome), and even cognitive science (locus of control). The word’s transition from concrete physical place to abstract locus reflects broader shifts in analytic language, aligning with the Latin root and its English cognates in numerous technical disciplines.
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Help others use "locus" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "locus" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "locus" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "locus"
-cus sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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