3 syllables: Mo, men, tous. Stress on men.
moh-MEN-tuhs
/moʊˈmɛntəs/
Momentous is pronounced moh-MEN-tuhs (/moʊˈmɛntəs/). It has three syllables (Mo-men-tous), with the stress on "men". Momentous describes a situation or event of great importance or consequence. It signals a turning point or significant impact, often carrying long-lasting effects. The term conveys gravity and weight, implying that the outcome matters deeply beyond the immediate moment.
adjectiveMomentous describes a situation or event of great importance or consequence. It signals a turning point or significant impact, often carrying long-lasting effects. The term conveys gravity and weight, implying that the outcome matters deeply beyond the immediate moment.
"The decision to sign the treaty was momentous for the region's future."
"The discovery represented a momentous shift in our understanding of physics."
"Her resignation marked a momentous turning point for the company."
Momentous is pronounced /ˌmoʊˈmen.təs/ in US and /ˌməˈmen.təs/ in UK and AU. Primary stress falls on the second syllable: mo-MEN-tous. Start with a long 'o' as in 'go', then a light, unstressed 'men' syllable, and finish with a quick, unstressed 'tous' with a soft 't' and schwa-like ending. Practice by isolating the three syllables: mo- MEN -tous, and blend in connected speech for smoothness. Audio resources: try a pronunciation tool or native speaker sample for the exact rhythm.
Common errors include reducing the second syllable too much, producing /moʊˈmen.təs/ with a weak first syllable, or misplacing stress as MO-men-tous. Another pitfall is a clipped final -tous, turning it into /-təs/ or /-tə s/ with extra aspiration. Correct by ensuring the stress is clearly on MEN, keeping the first syllable slightly longer (/moʊ/), and finishing with a short, unstressed /təs/ rather than a hard or drawn-out ending.
In US English, /ˌmoʊˈmen.təs/ includes a rhoticized or anti-rhotic approach depending on speaker; the 'o' in the first syllable is a long /oʊ/. In UK English, /ˌməˈmen.təs/ often features a shorter first vowel and less rhotic quality, with the second syllable clearly stressed and a crisper /t/. Australian English tends toward a slightly more centralized first vowel and a lighter second syllable stress, yet with clear final /təs/. Listen for the subtle commitment of /ˈmen/ and the final reduced vowel.
The difficulty lies in the multisyllabic stress pattern and the final unstressed syllable. The second syllable bears primary stress, while the first syllable is unstressed but long enough to carry the vowel quality, and the final -tous ends quickly with a reduced vowel. Also, the retroflex or alveolar stop in -tous requires precise articulation to avoid a generic /t/ or /s/ blend. Mastery comes from controlled vowel length and a crisp, quick final syllable.
No. All letters contribute to the spoken form, though the final -ous is pronounced as a light /əs/ or /əs/ with a reduced vowel. The 'e' in the root is not silent; it shapes the /ˈmen/ vowel quality. The key is sustaining the second syllable’s quality while letting the final /əs/ glide quickly, so there is no abrupt halt between syllables.
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US: Slight rhoticity, longer /oʊ/ in the first syllable, second syllable with clear /e/. UK: /ˌməˈmen.təs/ with a shorter first vowel and crisper final stop; less rhotic influence in careful speech. AU: /ˌmoˈmen.təs/ with a more centralized first vowel, mild rhotic presence, and a fast final syllable. IPA notes: US /ˌmoʊˈmɛn.təs/; UK /ˌməˈmen.təs/; AU /ˌmoˈmen.təs/. Focus on matching the stress and ensuring the final /əs/ is not overemphasized.
Momentous originates from Middle English, formed from the combining form moment (‘a point in time; a significance or occurrence’) and the suffix -ous, indicating possessing a quality. The root moment traces back to Latin momentem, from movēre ‘to move’ and mōmentum ‘an action or motion’, sharing roots with words like moment and momentum. In early use, momentous described events of physical impact (a moment of force) or moral significance, but by the 18th–19th centuries it increasingly emphasized historical or consequential importance. The sense evolved to denote events with enduring importance beyond the immediate moment, in both political and scientific discourse. First known uses appear in moral and philosophical writings that highlight pivotal events or realizations with lasting effects, cementing momentous as a high-register descriptor for profound significance.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Momentous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Momentous"
-ous sounds
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