4 syllables: Ne, ver, the, less. Stress on less.
nev-ur-thuh-LES
/ˌnɛvɚðəˈlɛs/
Nevertheless is pronounced nev-ur-thuh-LES (/ˌnɛvɚðəˈlɛs/). It has four syllables (Ne-ver-the-less), with the stress on "less". Nevertheless is an adverb used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict something previously said. It signals persistence of a point or an exception, often implying “in spite of that.” In everyday use, it can also function as a transitional marker showing concession, similar to however or still. It’s a formal-to-neutral connector in speech and writing.
adverbNevertheless is an adverb used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict something previously said. It signals persistence of a point or an exception, often implying “in spite of that.” In everyday use, it can also function as a transitional marker showing concession, similar to however or still. It’s a formal-to-neutral connector in speech and writing.
- Common phonetic challenges to address: syllable-timed rhythm vs stress-timed, accurate pronunciation of /vərð/ sequence, and accurate final /lɛs/. • Tip: Use a steady, four-beat rhythm: ne-ver-tha-less. • Avoid over-pronouncing the /ð/ sound; make it a soft dental fricative with a light tongue against upper teeth. • Ensure you don’t reduce the middle syllable too aggressively, which can turn /vərðə/ into /vər/ or /və/; keep a crisp /ðə/ before /lɛs/. • Practice with minimal pairs to calibrate vowel length: /nɛvər/ vs /nævər/; /lɛs/ vs /les/ can change meaning in different contexts; record yourself and compare with reference.
"She was tired; nevertheless, she finished the project on time."
"The project is expensive; nevertheless, we decided to proceed."
"He wasn’t invited to the party; nevertheless, he joined later without fuss."
Say ne-VEHR-thuh-les with the primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌnɛvərðəˈlɛs/ in US and UK variants (rhotic American /ˌnɛvərðəˈlɛs/). The syllables break as ne-ver-the-less, with a light, quick middle /ðə/ in many speech patterns. Start with /n/ then a schwa-ish /ə/ before /r/ in many US accents; in UK English, you may hear a reduced /ə/ before the /ð/ as well. Finish with a crisp /lɛs/ and a soft final /s/. Listen for the secondary stress on the “the” in slower speech, but in rapid speech most speakers reduce it.
Common errors include overemphasizing the middle syllable, turning /ðə/ into a full vowel not yet; and misplacing stress by emphasizing the final syllable. People may also drop the /r/ in American pronunciations or mispronounce /ˈlɛs/ as /lɛt/ or /lis/. Correction: keep /nɛvərðə/ smooth, don’t extend /ðə/ too long, and ensure the final /lɛs/ is clear but not overly heavy. Practice with slow syllable-by-syllable enunciation, then blend for natural rhythm.
In US English, you’ll hear a rhotic /r/ in /nɛvər/ and a clear /ɪ/ vs /ɛ/ in some regions. UK English often reduces the /r/ (non-rhotic), so /nɛvəˈðəˈlɛs/ or /nɛvəðəˈlɛs/ with weaker r. Australian English is typically non-rhotic with vowel quality leaning toward /e/ or /ɛ/ in /lɛs/ and a light /ə/ in /ðə/. IPA: US /ˌnɛvərðəˈlɛs/, UK /ˌnɛvəðəˈlɛs/, AU /ˌnɛvəðəˈlɛs/.
The difficulty lies in the sequence /vərðə/ where the /ð/ and /ə/ can blur, and in the clusters around the /ð/ and /l/ that require precise tongue placement. The stress pattern is not intuitive for all speakers, since the main stress sits on the latter part of the word, contrasting with many two-syllable adverbs. Also, the /ə/ reduced vowels in fast speech can become a schwa that blends with neighboring sounds. Clarifying lip and tongue motion helps.
A useful tip is to anchor the pronunciation to the phrase boundary: ne-VER-the-less. In connected speech, you can place slight emphasis on ‘VER’ while letting ‘the’ be a quick, almost unstressed connector, then finish with a crisp ‘less.’ Practicing with the phrase, not just the isolated word, helps your mouth form the subtle /ð/ correctly and keeps rhythm aligned with the surrounding sentence.
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- US: rhotic /r/ in /nɛvər/, stronger /ɜː/ or /ər/ qualities; UK: non-rhotic /r/ drop, smoother /ə/ and /ðə/; AU: non-rhotic, vowel shifts closer to /ɪ/ or /e/ depending on speaker. • Vowel adjustments: US favors /ɛ/ in /lɛs/ while UK can be /lɛs/ with shorter /e/; AU leans to /lɪs/ occasionally. • Consonants: focus on /ð/ - place the tongue tip at the upper teeth, lightly touch, with a brief voiceless release; practice with words like 'this' 'that' for contrast. • Rhythm: stress the second syllable (VER) and maintain fast but clear /ðə/ as a light connector.
Nevertheless traces to Middle English, combining the preposition ‘ne’ (not or nevertheless in some dialects) with ‘less’ and ‘nevertheless’ as a concessive adverb. The modern form emerged in the early modern period as a compound of ‘never’/‘not’ and ‘the less’ or ‘less’ in sense of ‘in spite of that.’ Its function as a conjunctive adverb developed to mark contrastive concession in both speech and prose. The term entered English usage by the 15th–16th centuries, expanding in usage as legal and rhetorical writing favored explicit concession markers. Over time, its usage broadened from formal discourse to everyday conversation, maintaining a strong transitional role and a subtle, formal tone. The word is now a common feature in academic, professional, and literary registers, used to acknowledge counterpoints while maintaining a stance or argument. Modern etymology emphasizes its role as a coordinating adjunct that signals persistence of a point despite contrary information; the pronunciation has remained relatively stable across dialects, with minor stress shifts and vowel quality differences by region.
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Words that rhyme with "Nevertheless"
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