2 syllables: mon, strous. Stress on mon.
MAHN-struhs
/ˈmɑnstɹəs/
monstrous is pronounced MAHN-struhs (/ˈmɑnstɹəs/). It has two syllables (mon-strous), with the stress on "mon". Monstrous describes something extremely large or frightening in a way that inspires fear or disgust; it can refer to size, scale, or shocking or grotesque qualities. It is often used to convey a strong, negative impression, whether literal (a monstrous creature) or figurative (monstrous behavior). The term carries a sense of abnormal magnitude or severity beyond ordinary bounds.
Monstrous describes something extremely large or frightening in a way that inspires fear or disgust; it can refer to size, scale, or shocking or grotesque qualities. It is often used to convey a strong, negative impression, whether literal (a monstrous creature) or figurative (monstrous behavior). The term carries a sense of abnormal magnitude or severity beyond ordinary bounds.
"A monstrous storm battered the coast, tearing roofs from houses."
"The judge handed down a monstrous fine that shocked everyone."
"The crowd gasped at the monstrous sculpture that loomed over the park."
Monstrous is pronounced MON-struss, with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈmɒn.strəs/; UK /ˈmɒn.strəs/. Start with an open back rounded vowel in the first syllable, then a neutral schwa in the second syllable, and finish with an unaspirated or lightly aspirated s. Listen for the quick, unstressed second syllable; avoid elongating it. Audio references: you can compare with Cambridge, Oxford audio pronunciations.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress (e.g., moNstrous) and overpronouncing the second syllable. Another is pronouncing the second syllable as ‘mosk’ or ‘mun-struh-s’ rather than a short ‘-strəs.’ Correction: keep stress on MON, use a quick, lax ‘strəs’ with a light schwa, and end with a soft ‘s’ or /z/ based on surrounding sounds. Practice with minimal pairs against related words like ‘monster’ to anchor the -strəs ending.
US/UK/AU share the MON-strəs pattern, but vowel quality in the first syllable shifts slightly: US often uses /ɒ/ (as in cot) for the first vowel, UK and AU also typically /ɒ/ but can show subtle shifts toward /ɔ/ in some dialects. The final -ous tends to be /əs/ in rapid speech; some speakers may reduce to /əs/ or even /əs/ with a softer /s/. The rhoticity does not affect this word much, but non-rhotic accents may sound more vowel-centered in the first syllable.
The difficulty lies in the short, lax first syllable vowel and the quick, unstressed second syllable with a schwa followed by an /s/. Achieving the right vowel length and avoiding a dull, heavy second syllable requires precise mouth positioning: low-back vowel for /ɒ/ and a relaxed, centralized /ə/ for /ə/; the final /s/ should be crisp but not hissed. Practicing with slow alternation between /ˈmɒn.strəs/ and a more fluid /ˈmɒn.strəs/ helps internalize the timing.
A unique point is the contrast between the strong first syllable and the weak, reduced second syllable. You’ll often hear speakers reduce the second syllable to a near-silent or light /ə/ in rapid speech, which can mask the schwa if not practiced. Emphasize the initial MON while keeping the -strous portion quick and light to mimic natural English rhythm.
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Monstrous comes from the Middle English monstrous, borrowed from Old French monstrueux, which itself derives from Latin monstrosus, meaning ‘showing or indicating a monster.’ The Latin stem monstr- relates to ‘monster’ in the sense of something that should be feared or that stands out as something unnatural. The word’s earliest senses connoted being monstrous in the literal sense of relating to a monster, extending metaphorically to imply enormity, severity, or extraordinariness in actions or appearances. Over time, English usage broadened to describe not only physical monstrosities but also abstract qualities (monstrous behavior, monstrous profits), frequently carrying moral or emotional weight—associations with fear, grotesqueness, or excess. The form appears in 14th–15th century texts, with modern sense expansions cemented by centuries of literary usage, including Gothic and Romantic literature, which amplified the monstrous as a figure of awe, horror, and exaggeration.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "monstrous" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "monstrous" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "monstrous"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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