2 syllables: lus, trous. Stress on lus.
LUHS-truhs
/ˈlʌstɹəs/
lustrous is pronounced LUHS-truhs (/ˈlʌstɹəs/). It has two syllables (lus-trous), with the stress on "lus". Lustrous describes a surface that reflects light in a smooth, glossy, and appealing way. It conveys a sense of sheen and radiance, often suggesting high quality or beauty. The term can apply to materials, appearances, or metaphorical brilliance in character or achievement.
Lustrous describes a surface that reflects light in a smooth, glossy, and appealing way. It conveys a sense of sheen and radiance, often suggesting high quality or beauty. The term can apply to materials, appearances, or metaphorical brilliance in character or achievement.
"The piano’s lustrous finish caught the stage lights as she opened the lid."
"Her eyes were lustrous, reflecting the soft glow of the room."
"The tailor polished the fabric until it had a lustrous gleam."
/ˈlʌs.trəs/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a clear /l/ and a short, lax /ʌ/ as in 'strut', then move to a light /s/ transition into /tr/ cluster, and finish with a schwa /ə/ in the unstressed second syllable and an /s/ sound. In American speech, the final -ous tends to be a quick, soft /əs/. Audio reference you can compare: you’ll hear the same pattern in many English glossaries and pronunciation sites.
Common errors: (1) Over-emphasizing the second syllable, producing /lʌsˈtɹəs/; (2) mispronouncing the /tr/ cluster as separate, like /t/ followed by /r/ with a break; (3) elongating the final /əs/ to /əsɪ/ or /əs/ with a strong vowel. Correction: keep the second syllable short and weak (schwa), glide from /s/ into /tɹ/ tightly, and end with a quick /əs/. Maintain a light tongue contact for the /r/ portion if you’re using US pronunciation, and don’t insert a vowel between /tr/ and the following /ə/.
US: rhotic /ɹ/ blends with /tr/ cluster and a pronounced final /ɪs/ reduction to /əs/. UK: similar rhotic absence in non-rhotic accents yields a slightly milder /ɹ/ and a more centralized /ə/ in unstressed syllable. AU: tends to be similar to US with a crisp /ɹ/ and a slightly more centralized vowel in the second syllable; some speakers may reduce to /lʊ.strəs/ depending on speed. Overall: the main variation is rhoticity and vowel quality (US more rhotic, UK typically non-rhotic, AU intermediate). IPA anchors: US/UK/AU → /ˈlʌstɹəs/ vs /ˈlʌstəɹəs/.
It challenges you with the /ʌ/ vowel in the stressed first syllable, the /tr/ consonant cluster immediately after, and a quick /əs/ reduction at the end. The /ʌ/ requires a mid back-central tongue position and a lax, short vowel; the /tr/ cluster demands precise tongue-tip contact and a smooth transition from sibilant to alveolar trigraph; finishing with a reduced schwa demands subtle lip relaxation. Mastering the flow between sounds and avoiding a break between syllables is key.
The critical, unique feature is maintaining a seamless /s/ into the /tr/ sequence without inserting an extra vowel, while ensuring the first syllable carries clear stress. You’ll want to avoid an elongated /l/ or an extra vowel before /s/. Also, keep the final /əs/ light, not a strong /əsɪ/. Focus on a crisp, fast transition from /s/ to /tɹ/ and then a rapid, optional schwa.
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Lustrous comes from the adjective lustre (British spelling) or luster (American spelling), meaning a gleam or shine. The root is Latin lustrare ‘to illuminate, to brighten,’ from lucere ‘to shine’ and lustrum ‘purification by light.’ The first English usage appears in the late Middle English period, around the 14th–15th centuries, often in contexts describing surfaces, metals, or gems with a bright, reflective quality. Over time, lustrous broadened from literal reflections—polished metals and textiles—to figurative brilliance, as in “lustrous career” or “lustrous reputation.” The word’s orthographic variants, including the British - lustre and American luster, reflect historical spelling standardization. Its semantic trajectory tracks a shift from tangible sheen to a broader sense of radiance or excellence in appearance, performance, and character.
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Words that rhyme with "lustrous"
-sts sounds
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