3 syllables: Per, ni, cious. Stress on ni.
pur-NISH-uhs
/pɚˈnɪʃəs/
Pernicious is pronounced pur-NISH-uhs (/pɚˈnɪʃəs/). It has three syllables (Per-ni-cious), with the stress on "ni". Pernicious is an adjective meaning highly injurious or destructive, often in a gradual, subtle way. It describes something with harmful effects that are hard to notice at first, yet steadily destructive over time. Although it can refer to dangers or influences, the tone is formal and somewhat judgmental about the negative impact.
nounPernicious is an adjective meaning highly injurious or destructive, often in a gradual, subtle way. It describes something with harmful effects that are hard to notice at first, yet steadily destructive over time. Although it can refer to dangers or influences, the tone is formal and somewhat judgmental about the negative impact.
"Her pernicious influence on the committee undermined progress without anyone noticing at first."
"The policy had a pernicious effect on civil liberties, eroding rights incrementally."
"She warned of the pernicious spread of misinformation across social media."
Pronounce as pər-NI-shəs. IPA US: /pərˈnɪʃəs/, UK: /pəˈnɪʃəs/, AU: /pəˈnɪʃəs/. The primary stress is on the second syllable. Start with a light, unstressed 'per' (schwa + r), then a short stressed 'NI' with a short 'i' vowel, and finish with a soft '-ous' as /əs/. Practicing slowly: pə- 'nɪ' - shəs. You can listen to examples on Pronounce, Forvo, or YouGlish for natural intonation.
Common errors: 1) Slurring the second syllable, saying per-NI-cious with the stress on the first syllable. Correction: keep the second syllable stressed /ˈnɪʃ/ but simplified to /ˈnɪ-ʃəs/ with a clean break. 2) Pronouncing the ending as -ous with a hard /ʊs/ sound; correct is a reduced /əs/ resulting from unstressed -ous. 3) Mispronouncing /nɪ/ as /nɪə/ or /neɪ/; keep it short and clipped /nɪ/. 4) Dropping the r in American contexts: ensure the rhotic /r/ is smooth in the first syllable when appropriate. Practice with minimal pairs and IPA references to lock in Vowel quality.
US: /pərˈnɪʃəs/ with rhotic r and a schwa in the first syllable. UK: /pəˈnɪʃəs/ with non-rhotic r (linking to the next word) and a clearer /ɪ/ in the second syllable. AU: /pəˈnɪʃəs/ similar to UK, but with Australian vowel quality, often a more centralized vowel in the first syllable and a slightly broader 'a' in some regions. In all, the main stress remains on the second syllable; the ending is typically /əs/ rather than /əs/ with a distinct /s/ sound, and vowel length is reduced in rapid speech.
Difficulties stem from: 1) The -nicious vs -ni- pattern: the 'ni' vowel is short /ɪ/ and stressed, which can be tricky if you expect a longer vowel. 2) The ending -cious often reduces to /ʃəs/ in rapid speech; learners may produce /ʃəs/ or /sɪəs/. 3) The initial unstressed schwa plus r in US adds a rhotic quality that can blur with neighbouring consonants. 4) Maintaining multisyllabic rhythm in formal speech without de-stressing the second syllable. Visualize IPA: /pərˈnɪʃəs/ and speak slowly at first, then speed up with natural coarticulation.
In many contexts, 'Pernicious' carries a moral judgment beyond mere harm. How do you convey that the harm is subtle rather than obvious without altering pronunciation? Answer: keep the primary stress steady on /ˈnɪ/; ensure the initial schwa remains relaxed (pər). The unique pronunciation detail is the contrast between the 2nd syllable’s short /ɪ/ and the trailing /ə/ in fast speech. By shaping your mouth with a light jaw drop for /ə/ in the first syllable and a crisp /ɪ/ in the second, you preserve the word’s formal tone and clarity in speech.
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Pernicious comes from the Latin perniciosus, meaning destructive, ruinous, ruinous. It derives from pernicies, meaning ruin or injury, which itself traces to Latin per-, intensive prefix, plus nic- ‘harm’ from necere ‘to harm’ (cognate with nocere ‘to harm’ in Latin). The word entered Middle English through Old French pernicious, retaining the sense of causing injury or ruin. In 15th–16th century English, pernicious often described moral or social harm as well as physical harm, reflecting learned Latin through humanist scholarship. Over time, its usage broadened to indicate subtly dangerous influences—covert damage that accumulates rather than causing abrupt, obvious harm. In modern usage, pernicious frequently carries a negative moral valence, often paired with ideas like misinformation, corruption, or insidious influence, and is common in formal or academic writing.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pernicious" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Pernicious"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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