3 syllables: Ob, lo, quy. Stress on Ob.
AW-bluh-kwee
/ˈɔbləˌkwi/
Obloquy is pronounced AW-bluh-kwee (/ˈɔbləˌkwi/). It has three syllables (Ob-lo-quy), with the stress on "Ob". Obloquy is public or general condemnation or vilification, especially expressed as strong verbal criticism or harsh condemnation. It denotes a sustained reproach or public shame, often amplified by scandal or scandalous notoriety. The term carries formal, literary register and historical weight, typically used in discussions of reputational damage or moral censure.
nounObloquy is public or general condemnation or vilification, especially expressed as strong verbal criticism or harsh condemnation. It denotes a sustained reproach or public shame, often amplified by scandal or scandalous notoriety. The term carries formal, literary register and historical weight, typically used in discussions of reputational damage or moral censure.
- You often put the stress on the first syllable, saying OB-lə-kwy. Instead, punch the second syllable: ob-LO-quy. - You treat /kw/ as two separate segments /k/ and /w/. Practice the /kw/ cluster as a single articulatory gesture: round lips and quickly release into /wi/. - You flatten vowels, especially in British or American casual speech. Aim for a crisp /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ in the second syllable, and a bright final /i/ or /ɪ/.
How to Pronounce Obloquy
"The senator faced obloquy after the leaked documents revealed his ethical breaches."
"She spoke with obloquy about the corporation’s environmental violations."
"The book details years of obloquy heaped upon the whistleblower by the skeptical press."
Obloquy is pronounced ob-LO-quy, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US: /ɒbˈlɒkwi/ or /əˈblɒkwi/ depending on accent; UK: /ɒbˈləʊkwɪ/; AU: /ˈɒbləkwɪ/. Focus on a strong “LO” vowel and a crisp final /kwɪ/ or /kwɪ/. Start with a light first syllable, then fully articulate the second syllable with a rounded, tense vowel, finishing with a quick /wi/ glide.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress, sounding like ob-LO-quy with incorrect emphasis on the first or third syllable. Correction: emphasize the second syllable /ˈlɒkwi/. 2) Slurring the final /kw/ into a simple /k/ or /w/; fix by producing a quick, tight /kw/ cluster before the final /i/. 3) Vowel quality in the first and second syllables; avoid a dull or flat /ɒ/—move to a crisp, rounded /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ depending on accent. Rhythm should be 2-syllable feel: ob-LO-quy.
US English often reduces the first syllable slightly and uses a broad /ɒ/ for the second syllable, with a tighter /kw/ edge. UK English tends to a clearer /ˈləʊ/ or /ləʊ/ diphthong in the second syllable and a more open final /i/ or /ɪ/. Australian usually favors a broad, flatter /ɒ/ with a clipped final /wi/ or /wiː/. Across all, the core is the /ˈlɒkwi/ or /ˈləʊkwɪ/ skeleton, but vowel quality and rhoticity differ: rhotic in US can affect preceding /r/ if linked, UK is non-rhotic, AU leans toward non-rhotic but with some vowel flattening.
The difficulty lies in the two weak syllables and the consonant cluster /kw/ at the end. The second syllable carries primary stress, while the initial syllable is unstressed, which can lead to mis-stressing. The /kw/ blend requires precise lip rounding and tongue placement; avoid releasing it as /kw/ or /kwə/. Additionally, the final vowel can drift toward a reduced schwa in casual speech. Practice maintaining a crisp /kw/ and clear two-syllable rhythm.
A unique feature is the strong emphasis on the second syllable with a clear /l/ and a precise /kw/ sequence, which can be challenging for non-native speakers who often misplace the stress or softening the /l/. Also, the final /y/ creates a /i/ or /ɪ/ vowel depending on accent. A tight, tense vowel in the second syllable plus a sharp /kw/ helps preserve the authoritative, formal tone of the word.
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- US: rhotic influence can slightly color the /ɒ/ into /ɑ/; keep /l/ dark and the /kw/ cluster tight. - UK: typically non-rhotic; the second syllable is /ləʊ/ or /ləʊkwi/ with a longer diphthong; maintain a clear, elongated /oʊ/ or /oʊ/ in the second syllable. - AU: tends to flatter vowels; keep /ɒ/ broad and maintain a less pronounced final /i/; stress still on the second syllable. Use IPA guides to track each vowel quality.
Obloquy comes from the Latin obloquium, from ob- (‘against’) + loqui (‘to speak’). The root loqui yields forms related to ‘to speak’ (colloquial, eloquent, ventriloquist). In Classical Latin, obloquium meant ‘a loud or loud talk’ or ‘sounding against,’ with connotations of public speaking that brings reproach. In English, by the 16th–17th centuries, it shifted to denote harsh spoken condemnation in a public or quasi-public sphere. The term acquired formal resonance in political and literary contexts, often paired with words like “public,” “universal,” or “moral” condemnation. Its usage emphasizes the spoken aspect of censure, rather than written slander alone, and it tends to appear in discussions of reputational damage or ethical scrutiny. First known uses appear in early modern English texts, with scholars tracing obloquy to legal and rhetorical Latin sources that described influential oration aimed at discrediting an individual. Over time, obloquy remained relatively formal and somewhat arcane, commonly found in essays, sermons, and period literature. In contemporary usage, obloquy preserves its weighty, rhetorical tone, signaling strong moral judgment rather than casual criticism, and often appears in historical or analytical narratives addressing scandal.
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Words that rhyme with "Obloquy"
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