2 syllables: Ob, scene. Stress on scene.
ahb-SEEN
/ɑˈbsin/
Obscene is pronounced ahb-SEEN (/ɑˈbsin/). It has two syllables (Ob-scene), with the stress on "scene". Obscene is an adjective describing something shocking or offensive to accepted standards of decency or morality, often provoking strong disapproval. It can refer to words, images, or actions that are explicitly lewd, profane, or morally repugnant, crossing customary boundaries. In context, it implies a severity that surpasses mere rudeness and warrants condemnation.
adjectiveObscene is an adjective describing something shocking or offensive to accepted standards of decency or morality, often provoking strong disapproval. It can refer to words, images, or actions that are explicitly lewd, profane, or morally repugnant, crossing customary boundaries. In context, it implies a severity that surpasses mere rudeness and warrants condemnation.
"The film was rated R for its obscene scenes and profanity."
"Officials condemned the obscene graffiti found on the school walls."
"She refused to repeat the obscene joke in front of the children."
Pronounce as əb-SEE-n. The primary stress is on the second syllable. IPA: US: əbˈsiːn; UK: əbˈsiːn; AU: əbˈsiːn. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a long E in the second, and finish with a light 'n'. Mouth position: lips relaxed, tongue slightly raised for the long E, and a clear nasal end.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable (OB-scene)—correct to secondary syllabic accent on SCENE. 2) Slurring the second syllable, making it sound like ‘ob-seen’ with a short vowel; ensure the long /iː/ in /siː/. 3) Pronouncing as ‘ob-zen’ with a z sound; use /siː/ with unvoiced s followed by a long e. Tip: exaggerate the /siː/ to keep the long vowel accurate.
In all three accents, the second syllable carries primary stress: /ɪˈsiːn/ in many transcriptions. US: əbˈsiːn with a rhotic-friendly melanic flow but no rhotic change in this word. UK: əbˈsiːn, non-rhotic but the /r/ is silent; Australian: əbˈsiːn with similar to UK vowel quality; the main differences are vowel quality influenced by schwa vs. reduced vowels and intonation contours rather than consonant changes. Overall, the /siː/ keeps a long i across accents.
Two main challenges: the long /iː/ in /siːn/ can blur when spoken quickly, and the initial unstressed /ə/ can reduce toward a schwa that softens the onset. The combination of a light first syllable and a sharp secondary stress can cause mispronunciations like OB-scene or ob-SEE-n. Focus on sustaining the /iː/ sound clearly and maintaining primary stress on the second syllable to avoid flattening into /ˈsɪn/ variants.
A unique aspect is the duration and quality of the long /iː/ following the /s/. Ensure the mouth opens enough and the tongue stays high for the peak of /iː/ without turning into a fronted /i/ as in ‘eat’. The sequence əb-ˈsiːn can feel like two roughly equal beats if you emphasize the /siː/ segment; keep the initial /ə/ short and the /siːn/ longer, but not overly long.
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Obscene derives from the Latin obscenus, meaning 'foul, repulsive, or shameful.' obscenus itself comes from ob- ‘toward’ or ‘against’ and causa ‘a cause or reason,’ but the sense shifted in Latin to express something that was shameful or repugnant, often in a moral or religious context. In Late Latin, obscenus and obscena described things that invoked disgust or were morally wrong, particularly acts or images considered indecent. The term entered Old French as obscene and from there to English by the 14th century. In English, obscene originally carried strong moral condemnation, often tied to religious or civic standards regulating speech, behavior, or content. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the sense broadened to cover obscene language and materials as societal tolerances evolved. In modern usage, obscene commonly denotes something profoundly offensive to decency through explicit sexual content, extreme profanity, or graphic violence, but its intensity and applicability can vary by legal, cultural, and social norms. The word also appears in phrases like “obscene libel” or “obscene profits,” indicating that beyond personal offense, obscene can imply public invective or gross impropriety. This evolution reflects changing boundaries of decency and the ongoing tension between free expression and societal standards.
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Words that rhyme with "Obscene"
-een sounds
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