2 syllables: Pi, ous. Stress on Pi.
PEYE-uhs
/ˈpaɪəs/
Pious is pronounced PEYE-uhs (/ˈpaɪəs/). It has two syllables (Pi-ous), with the stress on "Pi". Pious is an adjective describing a devout, morally conscientious person or behavior, often with a religious or solemn connotation. It can also imply pretension or excessive zeal in some contexts. The term typically conveys earnestness and reverence, though tone can range from sincere to affected depending on usage and intent.
adjectivePious is an adjective describing a devout, morally conscientious person or behavior, often with a religious or solemn connotation. It can also imply pretension or excessive zeal in some contexts. The term typically conveys earnestness and reverence, though tone can range from sincere to affected depending on usage and intent.
- Common Mistake 1: Not stressing the first syllable; speaking as /ˈpais/ or /paɪs/. Fix: pause briefly before the second syllable and clearly release the /ə/ and /s/. - Common Mistake 2: Overemphasizing the second syllable as /əs/ with too much vowel sound; end up with /ˈpaɪəs/ slowed. Fix: shorten the second vowel to a quick schwa and keep /s/ light. - Common Mistake 3: Blurring the syllables in connected speech; listeners hear /paɪs/ or /paɪ.əs/ without the crisp boundary. Fix: insert a tiny boundary between syllables with a light, audible /ə/ and a crisp /s/.
"She was known for her pious habits and daily prayers."
"His pious motivation masked a more self-serving agenda."
"The sermon emphasized pious living rather than mere ritual."
US/UK/AU IPA: /ˈpaɪ.əs/. Start with a stressed /paɪ/ as in 'pie' plus a schwa-ish /ə/ or a quick /ɪ/ in the second syllable, then a light /s/. Tip: keep the first vowel high and tense; don’t reduce the /paɪ/ cluster. You’ll hear two distinct syllables in careful speech. If you can, say 'pie-us' quickly as a cue, then smooth to /ˈpaɪ.əs/ with a soft, almost absent second vowel.
Two frequent errors: (1) Turning /paɪ/ into a dull /paɪɪ/ or /paɪe/ by over-emphasizing the second vowel. (2) Slurring the second syllable into an unclear /əs/ or dropping the /s/ entirely. Correction: clearly release the second syllable with a short schwa or mid /ə/ before the /s/, keeping it light but audible. Practice slowly: /ˈpaɪ.əs/ and then run to speed while maintaining the two distinct segments.
All three accents share /ˈpaɪ.əs/ but vowel quality can shift: US tends toward a clearer /ɪ/ or /ə/ in the second syllable with a more pronounced /s/; UK often retains a crisper end, with less vowel length in the second syllable; Australian tends to a more centralized /ə/ and a slightly lighter /s/. The rhotic distinction is not a major factor here, but the quality of the /aɪ/ diphthong and the following /ə/ can vary subtly.
The challenge lies in blending the two syllables cleanly: the /aɪ/ diphthong requires mouth widening and tongue peak, followed by a quick, reduced /ə/ before /s/. Many speakers compress the second syllable, losing the /əs/ clarity and sounding like /paɪs/. Focus on sustaining a light secondary vowel and crisp /s/ release. IPA cues: /ˈpaɪ.əs/; keep the primary energy on /paɪ/ and then gently transition to /əs/.
The critical feature is the audibly distinct second syllable: many learners drop or merge /ə/ into a quick /s/ resulting in /paɪs/. The correct pattern is two distinct syllables with a light, schwa-like center: /ˈpaɪ.əs/. Ensure the /ə/ is not omitted; tongue relaxes mid-back, lips neutral, and the /s/ is softly hissed at the end.
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- US: clear /ɪ/ or /ə/ in the second syllable, keep /paɪ/ strong; non-rhotic tendencies affect vowel rounding slightly; IPA: /ˈpaɪ.əs/. - UK: crisper final /s/ and more precise vowel reduction in the middle; IPA: /ˈpaɪ.əs/. - AU: tends to a more centralized /ə/ in the middle; lighter overall rhythm; IPA: /ˈpaɪ.əs/. Useful clues: watch lip rounding for /aɪ/, relax jaw for /ə/, and keep a light tongue-tip contact for /s/.
Pious comes from Middle English pious, from Old French pios, from Latin pius, meaning dutiful or devout. The Latin root pius is linked to pietas, a Roman virtue combining duty, loyalty, and piety toward the gods and one’s family. Over time, the word broadened to describe not only religious devotion but a broader sense of moral uprightness and reverence in behavior. In English, the pronunciation settled on the generally accepted /ˈpaɪəs/ in standard varieties, with the first syllable stressed. First known use in English traces to medieval religious discourse, reflecting the centrality of piety in social and moral life. As secular vocabularies expanded, pious retained its religious overtone but was also used facetiously or critically to describe performative, insincere displays of virtue. The word’s semantic trajectory highlights the tension between genuine devotional sentiment and externally exhibited virtue, a theme that persists in literary and rhetorical usage from the 14th century onward.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pious" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Pious" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Pious"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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