3 syllables: Moun, tain, ous. Stress on Moun.
MOWN-tuh-nuhs
/ˈmaʊntənəs/
Mountainous is pronounced MOWN-tuh-nuhs (/ˈmaʊntənəs/). It has three syllables (Moun-tain-ous), with the stress on "Moun". Mountainous describes a landscape dominated by mountains or characterized by rugged, high-relief terrain. It can also refer to features or regions that are distinctly hilly or alpine in nature. The term conveys a sense of grand, uneven topography and challenging, elevated geography.
adjectiveMountainous describes a landscape dominated by mountains or characterized by rugged, high-relief terrain. It can also refer to features or regions that are distinctly hilly or alpine in nature. The term conveys a sense of grand, uneven topography and challenging, elevated geography.
"The hike offers mountainous terrain that tests even experienced climbers."
"They settled in a mountainous region where every valley hides a new peak."
"Her sketches capture the dramatic, mountainous silhouette against the sky."
Mountainous is pronounced MAUHN-tuh-nuhs in many American and UK contexts, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US: /ˈmaʊnˌteɪ.nəs/ or /ˈmaʊn.tən.əs/? There is some variation; a common, widely accepted form is /ˈmaʊn.tɪn.əs/ in UK English for rapid speech, while careful enunciation uses /ˈmaʊnˈteɪ.nəs/ to highlight the ‘mount’ + ‘ain’ morph. If you’re aligning with Australian speech, aim for /ˈmaʊn.tən.əs/. In practice, you'll hear a subtle vowel in the second syllable, with the 't' clarity depending on pace. Audio resources can help you lock the syllable boundaries.
Common errors include flattening the middle syllable to a quick /tæn/ sound or turning the second syllable into /teɪ/ with heavy emphasis, which shifts rhythm. Some speakers insert an extra syllable, saying ‘mount-ain-uhs’ instead of a compact ‘mountain-uhs.’ Correct by keeping the second syllable short and light, and maintaining a clear boundary before the final -ous. Focus on /ˈmaʊn.tən.əs/ or /ˈmaʊnˌteɪ.nəs/ depending on dialect, with a crisp /t/ and reduced middle vowel in rapid speech.
In US English, you often hear /ˈmaʊn.tən.əs/ with a rhotic r-influence minimal here, and the second syllable is schwa-like. UK speakers may use /ˈmaʊnˌteɪ.nəs/ or /ˈmaʊn.tɪn.əs/ with non-rhoticity; the second syllable tends to be a reduced schwa and a tidier /t/. Australian English commonly uses /ˈmaʊn.tən.əs/ with less vowel reduction in fast speech, but still a lighter second syllable. Listen for rhoticity differences and vowel quality in the second syllable's nucleus.
The difficulty lies in balancing the syllables: mountain-ous combines a cluster from /maʊn/ with a reduced middle vowel in English, producing a sequence /maʊn.tən.əs/ or /maʊnˈteɪ.nəs/ that can blur quickly in connected speech. The challenge is the subtle vowel in the second syllable and the exact release of the /t/ before a schwa or /ən/. Muscular control of the tongue for the /æ/ to /ə/ transition, as well as maintaining rhythm across the three syllables, makes it tricky for non-native speakers.
A unique feature is the 'mount' root with a lightly reduced middle syllable and a final -ous that sounds like /əs/ or /əs/ depending on pace: mountain-uhs. Focus on the boundary between /n/ and the following syllable; in careful speech, you’ll clearly articulate the /ən/ sequence rather than a fused /nən/ rhythm. Pay close attention to the stressed onset /maʊn/ and ensure the final /əs/ is not swallowed.
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US: keep /maʊn/ with a clear couplet; /tən/ tends to be a quick schwa. UK: more tendency toward /ˈmaʊn.tɪn.əs/ with light /ˌtɪn/ and final /əs/. AU: similar to US, slightly broader vowel in the middle syllable; maintain a crisp /t/ release. Vowel shifts: /aʊ/ diphthong; middle vowel often /ən/ or /ɪn/ depending on pace; keep final /əs/ or /əz/ with light lip rounding. IPA references to guide phonetics.
Mountainous derives from mountain + -ous, borrowed into English via Old French montagnes and Latin montanus from mont- ‘mountain.’ The core root is mont-, from Latin mons, montis, meaning ‘mountain.’ In medieval and early modern English, the suffix -ous formed adjectives denoting having the nature of or full of—thus mountain- + -ous becomes ‘full of mountains.’ The word began to appear in Middle English and Early Modern English as landscapes and regions described as ‘mountainous,’ particularly as cartography and travel literature popularized comprehensive geographic descriptions. Over time, the term broadened to describe things resembling mountains (e.g., a mountainous wind, mountainous terrain) beyond literal geology. First known uses reappear in 15th–16th century texts dealing with terrain, with increasing frequency in 17th–19th century scientific and travel writing as exploration expanded. By the 20th century, mountainous was a standard descriptor in geology, geography, and literature to convey rough, elevated relief and dramatic topography. The word’s meaning has remained stable: characterized by or full of mountains or mountains’ scale.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Mountainous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Mountainous"
-ous sounds
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