3 syllables: Os, sua, ry. Stress on Os.
AH-syoo-ree
/ˈɑsjuːɹi/
Ossuary is pronounced AH-syoo-ree (/ˈɑsjuːɹi/). It has three syllables (Os-sua-ry), with the stress on "Os". Ossuary is a noun referring to a container or receptacle, typically a chest or room, used for storing human bones. It denotes a burial repository for remains, often decorative or architecturally significant, and is encountered in discussions of archaeology, burial practices, or historical sites. The term emphasizes the function of housing ossified remains rather than individual graves.
nounOssuary is a noun referring to a container or receptacle, typically a chest or room, used for storing human bones. It denotes a burial repository for remains, often decorative or architecturally significant, and is encountered in discussions of archaeology, burial practices, or historical sites. The term emphasizes the function of housing ossified remains rather than individual graves.
How to Pronounce Ossuary
"The crypt’s ossuary held hundreds of ancient bones in carved reliquaries."
"Archaeologists documented the ossuary’s inscriptions to deduce burial customs."
"Tour guides described the ossuary as a glimpse into medieval ritual and reverence for the dead."
Ossuary is pronounced AHSS-yoo-uh-ree in US and UK practice, with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈɒs.juː.ə.ri/ (US: /ˈɒs.juˌɛɹ.i/ in some transcriptions). Start with the “oss” as in “boss” but with a short o, then the “s-” blends into a long “ju” approximating “you,” followed by a light “a” (uh) and ending with “ree.” Sit the tongue high at the palate for the “ju” and soften the final “ri.” Audio resources like Pronounce or Forvo can provide native samples for subtle duration and quality cues.
Common errors include misplacing stress (putting it on the second syllable), simplifying the middle “s” to a simple “z” sound, or turning the final “ry” into a heavy “ree” or an extra vowel. Correct by stressing the first syllable: OSS-yoo-uh-ree, keeping the middle syllable short and allowing the final “ri” to be a light, quick syllable rather than a drawn-out vowel. Use word-internal cues and listen to native samples to match rhythm.
In US and UK, the initial /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ aligns with “aw” in “paw,” while the second syllable features a long “you” vowel /juː/ in most accents. Australian speakers may reduce the final syllable slightly, with a brighter /iː/ or schwa-like ending depending on speaker. Overall, rhoticity is typically not prominent in final syllables; the word remains three-syllable with primary stress on the first: /ˈɒs.ju.ə.ɹi/ (US often /ˈæs.juː.ə.ɹi/).
It combines a rare consonant cluster and a tripartite vowel sequence: oss- (short o, s-s blend), -su- (long u glide), -ary (schwa-ish ending). The tricky parts are keeping the unstressed second syllable brief and sustaining a clean /juː/ before the final /ə/ or /ri/. Stress placement on the first syllable and the unobtrusive middle syllable can feel counterintuitive if you’re not used to three-syllable, non-thematic nouns with a soft ending.
No letters are technically silent, but the pronunciation requires subtle reductions: the /ˈɒs/ onset is clear but not elongated; the /ju/ functions as a single glide that blends quickly into the /ə/ or /ɹi/ ending. The final -ary often yields a light, unstressed -ə- vowel before the final -ri, which some speakers compress toward a schwa. Practicing the sequence with careful articulation helps avoid swallowing the vowel in the last syllable.
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Ossuary comes from the Latin ossarium, from os, oss-, meaning bone. The Latin term appeared in Late Latin to denote places where bones were stored after dismemberment or burial. Medieval Latin and ecclesiastical usage extended ossarium to refer to bone houses or chests that contained skeletal remains, often in charnel houses or chapels associated with churches. The English adoption, ossuary, occurred by the 17th or 18th century as scholars and antiquarians described burial customs and archaeologic finds, especially those in European contexts where bone repositories were architecturally notable. The word thus encapsulates a shift from a mere grave to a curated collection of bones within a ceremonial or commemorative space. Its use remains specialized, typically appearing in academic writing, museum labels, and historic site descriptions, shaping a precise visualization of bone-holding architecture. First known use citations point to Latin manuscripts and medieval inventories referencing ossa (bones) within curated spaces, evolving through Renaissance scholarship into modern archaeology-linguistics parlance. In contemporary English, ossuary evokes both the function of preserving remains and the cultural practices surrounding death and memory.
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Words that rhyme with "Ossuary"
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