4 syllables: Lux, u, ri, ous. Stress on u.
luhg-ZHUR-ee-uhs
/ləˈɡʒɝiəs/
Luxurious is pronounced luhg-ZHUR-ee-uhs (/ləˈɡʒɝiəs/). It has four syllables (Lux-u-ri-ous), with the stress on "u". Luxurious describes something full of luxury, comfort, and richness, typically involving expensive materials or a lavish experience. It conveys excess and indulgence, often implying high quality and sensory appeal. The term can describe objects, settings, or lifestyles that emphasize opulence and refinement.
nounLuxurious describes something full of luxury, comfort, and richness, typically involving expensive materials or a lavish experience. It conveys excess and indulgence, often implying high quality and sensory appeal. The term can describe objects, settings, or lifestyles that emphasize opulence and refinement.
"The hotel offered luxurious suites with marble bathrooms and chandeliers."
"She wore a luxurious velvet dress that shimmered in the evening light."
"The spa provided a luxurious retreat, complete with aromatherapy and soft music."
Phonetically, Luxurious is luh-GZHOOR-ee-uhs, with IPA: US /lʌɡˈʒʊəriəs/ or /ləɡˈzjuːriəs/, UK /lʌɡˈzjʊəriəs/, AU /lʊkˈdzjʊəriəs/. The main stress falls on the second syllable: lu-GU-ri-ous. Start with a light “l”, then a quick “g” (soft), followed by a ʒ sound (as in measure) for the “gious” portion, then a schwa and an /iəs/ ending. Keep the final vowel cluster clear but not drawn-out; avoid turning it into a hard “ous.” Audio reference: listen for the moderate secondary stress and the smooth transition into the final unstressed suffix.
Common errors include: misplacing stress (lou-GEO-ree-us instead of lu-GZHOOR-i-əs) and turning the middle -z- into a hard s or z sound without the soft j- or zh- quality. Another pitfall is elongating the final -ous to a full syllable; keep it quick and neutral. Correct by practicing the sequence l-uh-GZHUR-ee-uhs with the zh-sound kept short and the final -əs relaxed.
US tends to have a strong second syllable with a zh (ʒ) quality in -gious, and a clearer /ɜː/ or /ɪə/ depending on speaker. UK often preserves a more rounded vowel in the /juə/ or /jʊə/ transition and a crisper final -əs. Australian tends to flatter the /jʊə/ or /jɔː/ sequence with a slightly flatter vowels, but keeps rhoticity limited. Overall, the zh-like middle sound remains the anchor, with vowel length and rhoticity shaping the difference.
The difficulty lies in balancing the zh-like /ʒ/ sound after the initial consonants, the multi-syllable stress pattern (secondary stress around the third syllable in some habits) and the final -ious cluster which can morph into /ɪəs/ or /juəs/. Getting the sequence l-uh-zh-oo-ree-əs smooth requires careful mouth positioning: a soft palate drop, a relaxed jaw, and keeping the tongue forward for the zh sound before the /ɪ/ vowel.
Luxurious pronunciations are fully phonetic in standard English; there are no silent letters in the core phonetic sequence l-uh-ɡ-zh-oo-ree-əs. The challenge is not letter silence but the blending of the /ʒ/ (zh) with the following vowel and keeping the final -əs unstressed. Focus on the zh + vowel bridge and a quick, light final /əs/ to avoid a heavy last syllable.
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- US: The second syllable carries primary stress, with a crisp /ʒ/ in the middle; vowels are relatively tight. - UK: The /jʊə/ or /jʊəri/ sequence can be a touch longer; less rhotic influence, more fronted vowel quality. - AU: Similar to UK but with slightly more open vowels and clearer consonant articulation; keep the /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ alignment in the middle depending on speaker. IPA references: /lʌɡˈzjʊəriəs/ (UK), /lʌɡˈʒʊəriəs/ (US), /lʌkˈdzjʊəriəs/ (AU). Tips: keep the zh-like core consistent across accents, adjust vowel rounding, and avoid over-emphasizing the final -əs.
Luxurious comes from the Latin luxuriosus, meaning ‘full of luxury,’ itself derived from luxus meaning ‘excess, luxury, extravagance.’ The root lux- relates to light, brightness and splendor through Latin and later French influence. In medieval and early modern English, luxuria or luxurie framed moral and social judgments about excess. By the 17th–18th centuries, luxurious began to describe things characterized by rich, lavish quality rather than mere abundance, expanding from material wealth to experiences and appearances. The modern form emphasizes sensory appeal and opulence, often implying both high quality and potential excess. First known use in English traces to the 15th century in various forms, but the current adjective form became standardized with late Renaissance influence, aligning with broader stylistic language about wealth and refinement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Luxurious" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Luxurious" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Luxurious"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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