4 syllables: Ob, se, qui, ous. Stress on se.
uhb-SEE-kwee-uhs
/əˈbsikwiəs/
Obsequious is pronounced uhb-SEE-kwee-uhs (/əˈbsikwiəs/). It has four syllables (Ob-se-qui-ous), with the stress on "se". Obsequious is characterized by a fawning, overly attentive demeanor intended to gain favor or advantage. It implies servile compliance and praise-directed behavior, often to an excessive degree. Used to describe people or actions that are ingratiating rather than sincere, typically in a context where flattery is self-serving.
nounObsequious is characterized by a fawning, overly attentive demeanor intended to gain favor or advantage. It implies servile compliance and praise-directed behavior, often to an excessive degree. Used to describe people or actions that are ingratiating rather than sincere, typically in a context where flattery is self-serving.
"The junior assistant offered obsequious compliments to the manager in hopes of a promotion."
"Her obsequious manner grated on colleagues who preferred straightforward, candid feedback."
"He was accused of obsequious loyalty, always agreeing with the boss no matter what."
Obsequious is pronounced ob-SEES-wee-uhs in many US pronunciations, with primary stress on the second syllable: ob- SE- qui-ous. A more precise IPA: US /ˌɒb.sɪˈkwiː.əs/; UK /ˌɒb.sɪˈkwiː.əs/. The mouth starts with an /ɒ/ like 'hot', then a schwa-like /ɪ/ and the /kwi/ cluster sounds like ‘kwee,’ followed by a soft /əs/. Ensure the second syllable carries the main stress, and the final syllable is light and unstressed. Audio references: try Cambridge or Oxford audio entries; you’ll hear the stress on the second syllable and the '/kwɪ/' sequence clearly highlighted.
Two common errors: 1) Stressing the first syllable (OB-se-qui-ous) instead of the second (ob-SE-qui-ous). 2) Slurring the /kw/ into /k/ or mispronouncing the /ɪ/ as a full vowel instead of a short, reduced vowel before /kw/. Correction: keep secondary stress on -SE-, pronounce /ˈkwiː/ with a clearly articulated /kw/ and a short, relaxed vowel in the second syllable; end with a soft /əs/ without adding extra syllable sound. Practice by isolating /ˌɒb.sɪˈkwiː.əs/ and tapping the stressed beat.
US: more rhotic? actually /ˌɒb.sɪˈkwiː.əs/ with an unstressed final syllable; UK/AU share the /ˌɒb.sɪˈkwiː.əs/ pattern but AU may be less rhotic in certain contexts, with a slightly broader vowel in /ɒ/ and a faster delivery. Differences are minimal in the main vowels, but rhoticity mainly affects related words; emphasize the second syllable in all; Australians may flatten some vowels and sound more clipped compared to British clear enunciation.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic, non-intuitive stress pattern and the /ɪ/ before the /kwi/ cluster. The sequence /səˈkwiː/ can trip speakers who expect a simple /si/ sound, leading to misplacement of stress and a distorted /kwiː/ sequence. Also, final -ous can be tricky: keep it light and reduce syllables, avoiding an extra /s/ sound. Practice focusing on the /kwɪ/ cluster and maintaining the -ous ending as unstressed.
Note the vowel in the second syllable: it is a short, lax /ɪ/ in most pronunciations, not a long /iː/. The sequence /kwiː/ is a fixed cluster; do not separate it into /kwɪ-i/ or /kwi-/; keep it tight as /kwiː/. The initial syllable has a depressed quality, almost a schwa, leading into the stronger secondary stress on -SE-. Keeping the rhythm is crucial for natural sounding speech.
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Obsequious comes from the Latin obsequiosus, meaning compliant or dutiful, derived from obsequium (dutifulness, compliance) from ob- (toward) + sequi (to follow). In Classical Latin, obsequius described proper obedience or dutiful behavior. In medieval Latin and later English, the sense broadened to describe excessive or servile compliance, often with a pejorative undertone implying flattery for personal gain. The word entered English via the Latin root during the Renaissance when scholars absorbed Latin moral vocabulary. Early usages in English frequently described courtly behavior—submissive attendance at a ruler or noble—before expanding to general descriptors of fawning conduct. By the 18th and 19th centuries, obsequious had fully entrenched its negative connotation in both social and political critique, signaling a lack of authenticity in the service of self-interest. In contemporary usage, obsequious remains a precise term for overly deferential behavior, particularly in hierarchical or power-imbalanced situations, and is used in both formal critiques and literary contexts. First known use in English records appears in the 16th to 17th centuries, with evolving connotations anchored in the Latin notion of dutiful following and flattery for gain.
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Words that rhyme with "Obsequious"
-ous sounds
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