3 syllables: Pel, lu, cid. Stress on lu.
pel-LOO-sid
/pɛlˈluːsɪd/
Pellucid is pronounced pel-LOO-sid (/pɛlˈluːsɪd/). It has three syllables (Pel-lu-cid), with the stress on "lu". Pellucid is an adjective meaning translucently clear or easily understood. It describes something so transparent or lucid that its details are unmistakable, often used of water, glass, or explanations. The term conveys sharp clarity, leaving little ambiguity or darkness behind.
adjectivePellucid is an adjective meaning translucently clear or easily understood. It describes something so transparent or lucid that its details are unmistakable, often used of water, glass, or explanations. The term conveys sharp clarity, leaving little ambiguity or darkness behind.
How to Pronounce Pellucid
"The pellucid lake reflected every tree with astonishing clarity."
"Her pellucid prose made complex concepts approachable for beginners."
"The scientist’s pellucid data visualization left no room for misinterpretation."
Pellucid is pronounced PEL-lyoo-sid, with primary stress on the first syllable. In IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈpɛl.juː.sɪd/. The middle syllable contains a long “u” as in you, and the final -sid sounds like “sid” rather than “s id.” A practical cue: think of “pel” as in “pelican” but shorter, “lyu” as “lu” + “yu” quickly, and end with “sid” as in “side.” Audio reference: say it slowly, then accelerate to natural speed, focusing on the lilting second syllable.
Common errors include saying pell- LU- sid with a heavy second syllable, or reducing the middle to a simple “lu” without the long ‘u’ quality. Some speakers misplace the stress, saying pe-LLU-cid or pel-LU-sid. Another pitfall is merging the middle syllable into the final, producing pel-LU-sid or pel- luh-sid. Correct by maintaining primary stress on the first syllable and ensuring the middle vowel is a clear /juː/ sequence rather than a short /ʌ/ or /ɪ/.
In US/UK/AU, the initial vowel is the open-mid /ɛ/ in all major dialects, with primary stress on the first syllable. The middle has /juː/ (as in ‘you’) in standard American and British pronunciation; Australian tends to be similar but can be slightly more centralized in rapid speech. The final /ɪd/ remains. Some UK speakers may devoice the final /d/ slightly, making it closer to /sɪt/ in very careful speech? Not typical. Overall the differences are subtle and relate to vowel quality and length rather than stress.
The challenge lies in the sequence /ˈpɛl.juː.sɪd/: a clear, long /juː/ between two consonant clusters, followed by a final /sɪd/ cluster. The middle /juː/ demands a fast, smooth glide from /j/ to /uː/ without breaking into separate syllables. Learners often misplace stress, or substitute /juː/ with a short /ɪ/ or /u/ sound, and may also overemphasize or underemphasize the final /d/. Practice the lilting transition: pel-LOO-sid quickly, keeping the mouth rounded for /juː/.
A unique phonetic feature is the smooth /juː/ in the middle; learners often write it as /ju/ or /juː/ inconsistently, or misread the 'll' as a separate consonant rather than a light L-L sequence contributing to the /l/ sound. Visual cues help: imagine “PEL” + “LYOO” + “sid,” with a quick, unobtrusive glide between L and Y. Keeping the mouth moderately closed for the /l/ and rounding for /juː/ reduces errors.
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Pellucid comes from the Latin pellucidus, from per- ‘through’ + lucere ‘to shine’, from lucere ‘to shine.’ The earliest Latin sense was ‘shining through’ or ‘transparent.’ In English, pellucid appeared in the 16th century to describe both physical transparency and figurative clarity. The word blends the intensifier pell- (through) with lucidus (bright, clear). Through centuries, its usage broadened from literal transparency (like glass) to conceptual clarity (explanations, arguments). The semantic evolution tracks a shift from describing visible light passing through a medium to the figurative “clear understanding,” maintaining the core idea of unobstructed visibility or comprehension. In modern usage, pellucid often carries a slightly formal or literary tone, reserved for precise, elegant clarity rather than everyday simplicity.
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Words that rhyme with "Pellucid"
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