4 syllables: Os, ten, ta, tious. Stress on ta.
ah-stuhn-TAY-shuhs
/ˌɑstəˈnteɪʃəs/
Ostentatious is pronounced ah-stuhn-TAY-shuhs (/ˌɑstəˈnteɪʃəs/). It has four syllables (Os-ten-ta-tious), with the stress on "ta". Ostentatious is an adjective describing a showy, flashy, and conspicuous display intended to attract attention or admiration, often through lavish or exaggerated style. It implies a lack of restraint and can carry a negative connotation. The word conveys bold affectation and a preference for attention-seeking presentation rather than subtlety.
adjectiveOstentatious is an adjective describing a showy, flashy, and conspicuous display intended to attract attention or admiration, often through lavish or exaggerated style. It implies a lack of restraint and can carry a negative connotation. The word conveys bold affectation and a preference for attention-seeking presentation rather than subtlety.
"Her ostentatious jewelry drew admiring glances from everyone at the gala."
"The actress wore an ostentatious gown with oversized sequins that shimmered under the lights."
" Critics argued the museum’s new exhibit was too ostentatious for a solemn occasion."
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.
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Ostentatious comes from the Latin ostentatorius, derived from ostentare, meaning to display or show. The root ostentare itself stems from ostentare (to exhibit, display) and ostentare, related to ostendere (to show). The Latin suffix -tiōn-/-tūs forms nouns and adjectives indicating a state or quality. In English, ostentatious entered in the 17th century with the sense of “showy” or “gaudy” behavior or dress, often carrying a critical tone about vanity or pretentiousness. The word evolved through French ostentatoire before settling in English with the modern pronunciation and spelling. It has retained the core idea of deliberate visibility intended to attract notice, but modern usage frequently emphasizes negative connotations of excessive display. First known use in English citations appears in the 1600s, aligning with broader Renaissance-era concerns about social display and status signaling. Over time, ostentatious has broadened beyond fashion to describe any conspicuous, attention-grabbing display, including architecture, behavior, or rhetoric. In contemporary usage, the word almost always implies criticism of showing off rather than a neutral description of flamboyance.
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Words that rhyme with "Ostentatious"
-ous sounds
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