4 syllables: No, to, ri, ous. Stress on to.
noh-TAW-ree-uhs
/noʊˈtɔɹiəs/
Notorious is pronounced noh-TAW-ree-uhs (/noʊˈtɔɹiəs/). It has four syllables (No-to-ri-ous), with the stress on "to". Notorious is an adjective meaning well known for something negative or unfavorable, often with a strong, widely recognized reputation. It implies fame that is typically associated with disapproval or infamy, and it is commonly used across media and everyday discourse to describe people, events, or places that are infamous for a particular attribute or conduct.
adjectiveNotorious is an adjective meaning well known for something negative or unfavorable, often with a strong, widely recognized reputation. It implies fame that is typically associated with disapproval or infamy, and it is commonly used across media and everyday discourse to describe people, events, or places that are infamous for a particular attribute or conduct.
How to Pronounce Notorious
"The town became notorious for its repeated floods and poor drainage."
"She is notorious for turning every simple project into a chaotic fiasco."
"The company is notorious in the industry for its aggressive pricing tactics."
Notorious is stressed on the second syllable: no-TOR-i-ous. Pronounce as /noʊˈtɔːriəs/ in US and /nəʊˈtɔːriəs/ in UK. The key is the bold syllable TOR, with an open-mid back vowel in that position and a clear /r/ in rhotic accents. The final -ous is pronounced as /əs/ or /əs/ depending on speed. Visualize: no-TOR-ee-us; keep the mouth relaxed through the final /əs/. Audio references include standard dictionaries and pronunciation channels for models.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress (say no-TOR-i-ous with wrong emphasis), flattening the TOR into a dull 'to-ree-us' by reducing the vowel too much, and merging the final /əs/ into /əs/ with a schwa that’s too strong. Correction: clearly stress TOR, maintain /ɔː/ in that syllable, keep /r/ pronounced, and end with a light, quick /əs/ rather than a full syllable. Practice with slow enunciation then speed up while preserving the same vowel qualities.
In US English, you’ll hear no-TOR-ee-əs with a rhotic /r/ and a tense /ɔː/ in TOR. UK speakers often reduce vowel length a touch and may have a slightly less pronounced /r/, especially in non-rhotic positions; stress remains on TOR. Australian tends to be rhotic with broader Australian vowel qualities; the /ɔː/ can sound more rounded and the final /əs/ remains light. The essential is maintaining TOR as the peak syllable with clear /r/ or approximant.
Notorious combines a stressed mid-second syllable with a long /ɔː/ and a trailing unstressed /əs/. The risk areas: sustaining the /ɔː/ quality under stress, pronouncing the /r/ in non-rhotic varieties, and keeping the final /əs/ light in rapid speech. People also sometimes insert an extra vowel after TOR or flatten the second vowel into /ɪ/. Focus on authentic TOR vowel height, a crisp /r/ if you voice it, and a short, light ending /əs/ to sound natural.
Is the second syllable vowel a lax /ɔː/ or a diphthong in Notorious? It’s typically a steady /ɔː/ that has a tense-ish quality in many dialects; in some American accents, it can shift toward a closer /ɜː/ in rapid speech, but the contrast remains with TOR as the focal point. Ensure the TOR vowel stays open and the following /i/ lightly touches a separate syllable rather than coalescing with the TOR vowel.
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Notorious comes from the Middle English notorien, from Old French notorier or late Latin notorius, meaning ‘well-known’ or ‘notable’. The root notion was simply widely known, often with no negative connotation. Over time, however, usage shifted to imply a negative reputation; by the 15th century, notorious described people or deeds with a disreputable fame. The core syllable structure of no-TOR-i-ous emphasizes the second syllable as the primary stress in most varieties of English. The word has kept the sense of being known, but the practical meaning now leans toward infamy, particularly when the notoriety concerns disreputable actions or characteristics. The evolution reflects a common pattern in English where a neutral or positive term becomes pejorative when the context or association becomes morally charged, leading to the modern sense of ‘famous for a bad reason.’ First known use in English dates to the 15th century, aligning with early borrowings from Old French and Latin forms that indicated public knowledge or reputation rather than moral judgment. Contemporary usage retains the old-root meaning but pairs it with negative connotations through collocation and discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "Notorious"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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