3 syllables: mar, vel, lous. Stress on mar.
/ˈmɑɹvələs/
Say it backMarvellous is an adjective meaning extraordinarily good or wonderful; it denotes something that excites admiration or surprise. The term is used to express strong positive appraisal and is common in British English, with a similarly affirmative nuance in other varieties, though American usage may favor alternatives like wonderful. It can appear in informal praise as well as formal commendation.
"The view from the summit was marvellous, blowing me away with its clarity and color."
"You did a marvellous job organizing the event; everything ran smoothly."
"What a marvellous story—every twist kept me hooked."
Pronounce as /ˈmɑː.və.ləs/ in UK English and /ˈmɑr.vəl.əs/ in US English. The first syllable is stressed; the middle schwa is short and unstressed, and the final -ous is pronounced as a light /əs/ in many varieties. Mouth positioning emphasizes an open back unrounded vowel in the first syllable (UK) or a lower back R-coloured vowel in US contexts. Audio references: consult Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries for native-speaker pronunciations with audio examples.
Common errors include pronouncing the first syllable as a short /æ/ like 'mar' in American ‘mar’ or compressing the two middle sounds into a single vowel. Another frequent issue is overpronouncing the second syllable or misplacing the stress, resulting in /ˈmæɚ.və.ləs/ or /ˈmɑːr.və.ləs/ with inconsistent vowel quality. Correct by using a clear /ɑː/ (UK) or /ɑr/ (US) in the first syllable, keeping the middle schwa light, and finishing with a soft /əs/ rather than a full /əs/ or /z/.
US tends to use /ˈmɑr.vəl.əs/ with rhoticity influencing the first syllable vowel; UK uses /ˈmɑː.vəl.əs/ with a longer, more rounded broad /ɑː/ and non-rhoticity, while Australian tends to approach US-like vowels but with Australian vowel shifts around /ɑː/ and a slightly flatter final -ous. In all, the final -ous is often reduced to /əs/ in fast speech.
Two main challenges: 1) Managing the long vs short vowel length in the first syllable across accents (UK /ɑː/ vs US /ɑ/ or /æ/ tendencies). 2) The final -lous syllable with a reduced schwa and subtle /s/ vs /z/ voicing, which varies by speaker speed and register. Achieve clarity by sustaining the first vowel, keeping the middle schwa relaxed, and finishing with a light, quick /əs/.
Is the middle syllable /v/ a V-consonant blend (v) sound or is it a full vowel closure before the /l/? The standard is a syllabic /v/ within the medial /-vel-/ cluster, with /v/ as a consonant between two vowels in some rapid pronunciations. Maintain the /v/ clearly but smoothly connect to the following schwa; avoid turning /vel/ into a prolonged vowel. IPA cues: emphasize /ˈmɑː.və.ləs/ (UK) or /ˈmɑr.vəl.əs/ (US).
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Marvellous derives from the French merveilleux, based on merveilleux, itself from medieval Latin mirabilis meaning admirable or remarkable. The root mir- conveys wonder, awe, or admiration. In English, the form marvellous appeared in the 14th century via Old French, with the British spelling marvellous and American spelling marvelous evolving later as standard variants reflect orthographic conventions post-1700s. The shift toward spellings ending in -lous mirrors typical English morphology where -ous adjectives form from nouns or adjectives expressing possession of a quality (e.g., numerous, various). The word integrates semantic layering of astonishment with praise, moving from a literal sense of ‘to be worthy of marvel’ to a broader idiomatic sense of ‘extremely good or remarkable.’ Early literary usage often highlighted divine or extraordinary acts; by the 18th–19th centuries, it broadened to secular praise in prose and rhetoric. The term remains prevalent in both formal and colloquial registers, particularly in British English, where its emphatic tone is valued in expressive narration and commentary.
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Words that rhyme with "marvellous"
-ous sounds
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