2 syllables: lou, sy. Stress on lou.
LOW-zee
/ˈlaʊzi/
lousy is pronounced LOW-zee (/ˈlaʊzi/). It has two syllables (lou-sy), with the stress on "lou". Lousy is an informal adjective meaning very poor in quality or status; it can describe things, situations, or outcomes and often carries a mildly negative, colloquial tone. It implies dissatisfaction more than anger, and is common in casual speech. The word’s strength lies in its informal register and its concise, vivid characterization.
Lousy is an informal adjective meaning very poor in quality or status; it can describe things, situations, or outcomes and often carries a mildly negative, colloquial tone. It implies dissatisfaction more than anger, and is common in casual speech. The word’s strength lies in its informal register and its concise, vivid characterization.
"The weather was lousy all week, making the trip feel pointless."
"She gave a lousy performance, with missed cues and off-key singing."
"We had a lousy connection, so the call kept dropping."
You pronounce it as LAW-zee with the primary stress on LAU- (phonemic /ˈlaʊ.zi/). The mouth starts with an open-mid back rounded position for /laʊ/ (like ‘how’ with a long i sound), followed by a clear /z/ and a voiced schwa-less ending /i/. Keep the /z/ crisp and avoid a hissy or lazy end. IPA: US /ˈlaʊ.zi/, UK /ˈlaʊ.zi/, AU /ˈlaʊ.zi/; stress is on the first syllable, vowels are the same across accents.
Common errors include misplacing the primary stress (saying law-SEE rather than LAU-zee), improper /ʒ/ or /z/ articulation (trying to voice a /d/ or a softer /z/ when you should clearly release /z/), and shortening the vowel so it sounds like ‘low-zee’ without the proper /aʊ/ diphthong. Correct by enforcing the /laʊ/ diphthong, ensuring the /z/ is voiced and sharp, and finishing with a clear /i/ as in ‘see’. Lip position should start rounded slightly, then stretch to accommodate the diphthong.
In all three, the first syllable carries the primary stress and features /laʊ/ as in ‘how’. US rhotic tendencies don’t affect /laʊ/ but may influence surrounding vowels in connected speech; UK/US share /ˈlaʊ.zi/. Australian tends to be non-rhotic in some contexts, but /laʊ/ remains stable; the ending /i/ can be slightly clipped in fast speech. The main variation lies in vowel length and connected speech etiquette, not the core diphthong.
Its difficulty comes from the fast, two-part diphthong /laʊ/ followed by a voiced /z/ and a high front vowel /i/. The transition from /laʊ/ to /z/ requires precise timing; many learners converge to /laʊ-zu/ or /laʊ-bi/. Focus on the glide moving from /aɪ/ to /ɔɪ/ style nuance, and ensure the /z/ remains voiceless? Actually /z/ is voiced. The subtle vowel height shift in rapid speech and maintaining the crisp /i/ sound are the key challenges.
Lousy has no silent letters and standard syllable count (two syllables). The stress is consistently on the first syllable: LAU-zy. A word-specific nuance is ensuring you keep the DIPHTHONG /aʊ/ intact; rushing can blur it into /ɒ/ or /aʊi/. Also, the final /i/ should be a clear vowel rather than a whispered or reduced sound. Maintaining the two-syllable rhythm with a crisp /z/ is essential.
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Lousy originates from American English in the early 19th century and is believed to be linked to nautical slang or folk etymology. One theory traces it to the word lous, meaning broken or defective quality, with -y forming an adjective. Another suggests it stems from the sense of “louse” (a small parasite) associated with filth or poor condition. The earliest printed uses appear in the 1830s–1850s, often in informal speech. Over time, the sense broadened from “scoundrelly” or “untrustworthy” to more general “poor in quality.” By the mid-20th century, lousy became a mainstream colloquialism for subpar items, experiences, or performances, retaining a playful but sharp negative nuance. Its semantic drift aligns with other informal evaluatives in American English, where vivid, shorthand judgments carry conversational weight. The word’s popularity persists in casual conversation and media, where it can describe weather, service, work, or outcomes, though it remains informal and occasionally blunt in tone. First known uses appear in American print in local newspapers and diaries, reflecting its roots in spoken, everyday language rather than formal lexicon.
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Words that rhyme with "lousy"
-wsy sounds
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