3 syllables: Ou, ra, nos. Stress on ra.
yoo-RAY-nos
/juˈreɪ.nɒs/
Ouranos is pronounced yoo-RAY-nos (/juˈreɪ.nɒs/). It has three syllables (Ou-ra-nos), with the stress on "ra". Ouranos is a classical proper noun referring to the ancient Greek personification of the sky and the primal deity who precedes the Titans. In English usage, it appears in scholarly, mythological, and literary contexts and is often Anglicized in pronunciation. The term carries a formal, historical register and is typically encountered in academic or poetic discourse rather than everyday speech.
nounOuranos is a classical proper noun referring to the ancient Greek personification of the sky and the primal deity who precedes the Titans. In English usage, it appears in scholarly, mythological, and literary contexts and is often Anglicized in pronunciation. The term carries a formal, historical register and is typically encountered in academic or poetic discourse rather than everyday speech.
"In Greek cosmology, Ouranos was the primal sky-god who lay the foundations for the cosmos."
"Scholars analyze Ouranos’ role in myth alongside Gaia and the Titans."
"The poem invokes Ouranos as a distant celestial father figure."
Pronounce as /ˌaʊˈreɪnɒs/ in broad transcription, but more precisely in classical Greek it is /uːˈraː.nos/ when rendered with Greek vowels. In English, place stress on the second syllable: our-AN-os; the first syllable sounds like ‘ow-’ as in ‘cow,’ the second syllable is a clear ‘ray’ or ‘rah’ depending on tradition, and the final syllable is a light ‘nos’ like ‘nose’ without the z. Listen for the middle vowel as a long a/ay sound, then finish with a crisp ‘nos.’ Audio reference: consider listening to classical pronunciation clips to hear the Greek vowel qualities in context.
Common mistakes include flattening the second syllable (our-AN-os often becomes our-ANus with an muted final syllable) and misplacing stress, saying ‘our-uh-NOS’ or ‘OWR-ayan-os.’ Correct by ensuring the stress lands on the second syllable and keeping a clear ‘ay’ or ‘a’ in the second syllable, followed by a lightly enunciated final ‘os.’ Keep the onset of the first syllable as a strong, rounded ‘ow’ and avoid turning the final consonant into a hard ‘z’ or ‘s’—finish with ‘nos’ as in ‘nose’ but without the z sound.
US: stress on the second syllable with a rhotic influence, pronouncing the middle vowel as /eɪ/ or /eɪ/, final syllable ‘nos’ with a short /oʊ/ quality. UK: similar stress pattern, but vowel qualities lean toward /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ in the second syllable and a crisp /ɒs/ ending; AU: tends toward a flatter vowel in the first syllable and a more relaxed final syllable with a neutral /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ depending on speaker. In all, the key is the second-syllable prominence and the final light ‘os.’
The difficulty lies in balancing the Greek-origin vowel sequence and the English phonotactics. The middle syllable often carries a long vowel sound that isn’t identical to ‘our’ in English, requiring a precise /aɪ/ or /eɪ/ quality depending on tradition, plus a light, clipped final /s/ rather than a z-sound. Non-native speakers may also misplace the stress or blend the final consonants, so practice with slow enunciation and reference IPA to anchor precise tongue positions.
No silent letters in the typical English renderings of Ouranos. The typical pronunciation includes all letters: O-u-r-a-n-os, with each syllable pronounced; the stress is on the second syllable, and there is a clear final /s/. Practically, some speakers may soften the final /s/ or devoice it slightly in rapid speech, but there is no silent consonant within the standard pronunciation. Keep each sound distinct for accuracy.
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Ouranos originates from ancient Greek Οὐρανός (Ouranós), meaning ‘sky’ or ‘heaven’. The root ουρα-, pronounced /oˈra/ in Greek, is linked to the Proto-Indo-European root *h2éu̯- meaning “to shine, sky, heaven,” which also yields words like aurora and aureate in various descendant languages. In Homeric and classical Greek, Οὐρανός referred to the sky as a tangible, personified entity and to the heavens as a domain. The name entered English via Latin sources and later through scholarly and mythological texts, where it was used to denote the primal sky-god. In later periods, especially in translations and academic writing, the term often appears with capitalized form and can be anglicized as Uranus in certain contexts. The transition from a concrete Sky Father in Greek myth to a broader astronomical and mythological name reflects shifts in transliteration and the intercultural exchange of classical literature. First known English attestations appear in the early modern period as scholars engaged with Greek mythology and classical geography, though the form Ouranos remains more common in direct mythological discussion, while Uranus is preferred in astronomical and planetary naming conventions.
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Words that rhyme with "Ouranos"
-nus sounds
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