4 syllables: Ob, scu, ri, ty. Stress on scu.
uhb-SKYUUR-uh-tee
/əbsˈkjʊɹəti/
Obscurity is pronounced uhb-SKYUUR-uh-tee (/əbsˈkjʊɹəti/). It has four syllables (Ob-scu-ri-ty), with the stress on "scu". Obscurity is the state of being unclear, unknown, or difficult to understand or discover. It refers to something hidden from view or perception, often producing a lack of clarity or fame. As a concept, obscurity can describe murky ideas, obscure references, or the condition of being least known.
nounObscurity is the state of being unclear, unknown, or difficult to understand or discover. It refers to something hidden from view or perception, often producing a lack of clarity or fame. As a concept, obscurity can describe murky ideas, obscure references, or the condition of being least known.
"The meaning of the ancient manuscript remained in obscurity for centuries."
"Despite his talent, he faded into obscurity after the studio downsized."
"The researcher explored the obscurity surrounding the quirky historical event."
Obscurity is pronounced with three syllables: ob-SKYUR-i-ty. IPA US: ˌɑbˈskjʊɹəti; UK: ˌɒbˈskjuːrəti; AU: ˌɒbˈskjʊəɹəti. The primary stress falls on the second syllable, with a secondary-ish emphasis on the first. Start with /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ depending on accent, then /b/ and /skjʊr/ cluster, followed by /ə/ and /ti/. The /ʃ/ sound is not present; it’s /skj/ as in “s-kyur.” Audio examples from Pronounce or Forvo can help you match the exact vowel coloring in your accent.
Two common mistakes: (1) Misplacing the stress, saying ob-SCURI-ty or ob-SCUR-i-ty with misaligned emphasis; (2) Slurring the /kj/ into /k/ or /t/—you want a clear /kj/ sequence in the second syllable. Correction: rehearse as ob-SKYOOR-i-ty, enforcing the /kj/ blend after the /s/ and before /j/. Practice chunking: ob-SKYOOR-ity with a crisp /r/ in the second syllable, and ensure the final /ti/ is light and quick rather than a strong 'tee' sound.
In US English, the second syllable is strong: /ˌɑbˈskjʊɹəti/. UK tends to have a longer /juː/ or /ʊə/ in the second syllable: /ˌɒbˈskjuːrəti/. Australian often matches UK but with a broader vowel in the first syllable and a more rolled or tapped /r/ in some speakers: /ˌɒbˈskjʊəɹəti/. Remember rhoticity: US r is more pronounced; UK often non-rhotic; AU sits between but leans toward non-rhotic tendencies in careful speech.
Because of the consonant cluster /skj/ after the vowel, which demands a smooth transition from /s/ to /k/ to /j/ without adding an extra vowel. The /ɹ/ or /r/ sound in the US can be challenging if you’re not rhotic; ensure the /ɹ/ is tapped or approximant rather than a hard roll. Additionally, the unstressed final syllable /i/ or /ə/ can be reduced; keep it light and quick to preserve rhythm.
The secondary emphasis on the first syllable often misleads learners. Ensure you elevate ob- just a touch while keeping the main stress on the second syllable: ob-SKYOOR-i-ty. The /j/ sound in /kj/ is a tricky glide; practice with a minimal pair like 'obscure' vs 'obscurity' to feel the glide forward into /j/ rather than an abrupt stop. Use an instrumental or digital recording to compare your pronunciation with a native model.
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US: stronger rhotic /r/ at the end of syllables; vowel colors are slightly tenser; /ɒ/ in initial can be more open. UK: non-rhotic in careful speech; /ɒ/ more open; /j/ may blend with /uː/ leading to /ˈskjuːr/ after the first two letters. AU: tends to be non-rhotic with vowel mergers; you may hear a more centralized /ə/ in the final syllable. IPA references: US ˌɑbˈskjɚəti, UK ˌɒbˈskjuːrəti, AU ˌɒbˈskjʊəɹəti. Focus on clear /kj/ cluster and subtle rhoticity in the US.
Obscurity comes from Late Latin obscuritus, from Latin obscurus meaning 'dark, obscure, hidden', itself from ob- 'toward' + duscus/durus 'dark'. The word traveled into English via Old French obscurité and Middle English obscurité, influenced by philosophical and theological discourse about the obscurity of meaning and revelation. The base element obsc- is linked to darkness or concealment, which shaped its figurative sense: something not easily perceived, understood, or recognized. In literary and philosophical contexts, obscurity rose to prominence as a term to describe the murkiness of texts, concepts, or reputations, before broad usage extended to everyday language. By the 16th–18th centuries, obscurity often carried a negative charge—connotations of ignorance or elusiveness—while in academic writing it could imply deliberate depth or complexity that requires study. The noun form gained traction alongside adjectives like obscure, obscured, and obscurely, reflecting a continuum from literal darkness to figurative vagueness. Today, obscurity is used across disciplines from art to science to critique, describing both deliberate concealment and genuine difficulty in comprehension. First known use in English appears in the late Middle Ages, with roots traceable to Latin and French meditations on visibility, perception, and meaning.
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Words that rhyme with "Obscurity"
-ity sounds
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