Ostentatious

Pronounce as /ɒˈstenˌteɪʃəs/ in UK, /ɒˈstenˌteɪʃəs/ or /ɑsˈtɛnˌteɪʃəs/ depending on speaker. The primary stress falls on the second syllable in the typical variant: os-TEN-tea-tion? Wait—that’s not right. Correct pattern is os-ten-TA-shous with secondary stress on the first syllable and primary stress on the third? The standard US pronunciation is /ˌɒsˌtɛnˈteɪʃəs/ with stress on the third syllable, “ta,” followed by “shəs.” Break it as os-TEN-tea-ous, but the typical, more accepted is os-ten-TA-shous; ensure the long A in -teɪ- is emphasized. Practically, try saying: os-TEN-teɪ-shəs. Listen to a reference audio and mimic the rhythm: three syllables before the final -shəs. IPA detail: primary stress on -ta- (ˈteɪ) and a weakschwa in -ous.

Common errors include misplacing stress, pronouncing the -tious as -ous or -shəs with incorrect vowel quality, and swallowing the mid vowels. To correct: rehearse os-TEN-teɪ-ʃəs with clear prominence on the -teɪ- and ensure the final -ʃəs is a soft, quick schwa + s sound. Don’t reduce the middle syllable or turn -ten- into -ten-tion; keep a crisp /ˈteɪ/ vowel. Also avoid pronouncing the ending as -tɪəs; use -tɪəʃəs, with a soft -ʃəs. Listening to native speech and repeating slowly at first helps lock the sequence.

In US English, you’ll hear /ˌɒˈstenˌteɪʃəs/ with a non-rhotic or weak R and a clearly stressed -teɪ-ɪ. UK speakers typically align with /ɒˈstenˌteɪʃəs/ with a slightly shorter -ten- and more fronted /æ/ in some regions; rhotics are often non-rhotic. Australian pronunciation tends to be /ɒˈstenˌteɪʃəs/ with a flatter vowel in the first syllable and a clipped, higher final vowel. Across all, the -tio- sequence stays as /teɪ/ or /teɪ/, and the ending /-ʃəs/ remains. Note subtle vowel shifts and rhythm differences: US may feel more drawn-out on -teɪ-, UK more clipped; AU sits between, with vowel flattening.

The difficulty centers on the -tious ending, which in many words becomes an unstressed schwa plus s: /-ʃəs/. Learners often misplace the primary stress, mispronounce the vowel in -teɪ-, or merge the middle consonants. Also, the sequence ost- (os-ten) can invite a vowel length mismatch, making /ˌɒstenˈteɪʃəs/ sound robotic. Focus on: clear /teɪ/ beat, a crisp -ʃ- before -əs, and a gentle, controlled final schwa. Practice with slow, deliberate articulation, then speed up while maintaining accuracy.

Ostentatious uniquely challenges learners with its long -teɪ- diphthong and the -ti- sequence that leads into -ous, plus a noticeable secondary stress on the early syllable in some variants. The combination of a non-rhotic ending and a relatively heavy second syllable makes rhythm important. You’ll often see confusion around whether to pronounce the '-tian' as '-ten- shus' or '-ten-ti-ous,' so double-check the standard -teɪ-ʃəs ending and keep the syllable count even: os-ten-TA-shəs.