2 syllables: Pu, mice. Stress on Pu.
PUHM-uhs
/ˈpʌməs/
Pumice is pronounced PUHM-uhs (/ˈpʌməs/). It has two syllables (Pu-mice), with the stress on "Pu". Pumice is a light, porous volcanic rock formed when lava rapidly froths with gas, creating airy vesicles that become a rough, abrasive material. It is typically light enough to float on water and is widely used in polishing, cleaning, and horticulture. The term also denotes objects made from this material, such as pumice stones. (2-4 sentences, 50-80 words).
nounPumice is a light, porous volcanic rock formed when lava rapidly froths with gas, creating airy vesicles that become a rough, abrasive material. It is typically light enough to float on water and is widely used in polishing, cleaning, and horticulture. The term also denotes objects made from this material, such as pumice stones. (2-4 sentences, 50-80 words)
"The painter used pumice to create a textured finish on the plaster."
"Pumice is effective for smoothing rough calluses without removing too much skin."
"The quarry produced pumice blocks that were shipped to build insulation panels."
Pumice is pronounced /ˈpjuː.mɪs/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a /p/ plosive, then /j/ as in yes, forming /pj/ followed by a long /uː/ vowel, then /m/ and a short /ɪ/ followed by /s/. In IPA: US/UK: /ˈpjuː.mɪs/. In rapid speech, you’ll hear a slight reduction on the second syllable without sacrificing clarity. Audio reference: try listening to Forvo pronunciations and standard dictionaries embedded audio.
Common missteps include misplacing the /j/ after the /p/ (saying /puː.mɪs/ instead of /pjuː.mɪs/) and shortening the /juː/ to a simple /u/ like ‘pume’ or mispronouncing /mɪs/ as /mɪs/ with a stressed final. To correct: ensure /pj/ blend at the onset, hold the /uː/ as a tense vowel with lip rounding, then release cleanly into /mɪs/. Practice with a vowel-length cue and a gentle pause between syllables.
Across US/UK/AU, the /juː/ sequence remains, but vowel quality slightly shifts: US tends to a less rounded /uː/ before /mɪs/, UK often maintains a crisper /juː/; Australian tends to a slightly more centralized /juː/ with relaxed onset. Rhoticity has minimal effect here because /pjuː/ itself is non-rhotic in some varieties. Overall, /ˈpjuː.mɪs/ is robust, with tiny vowel-timing differences.
Because it starts with the tricky /pj/ cluster, which isn’t common at word-initial positions in many languages. The long /uː/ after /pj/ requires lip rounding and precise tongue height to avoid conflating with /puː/ or /pjuː/ sequences. The short final /ɪs/ can blur with /əs/ in rapid speech. Slow practice helps your articulators lock onto the distinct /pj/ onset and the tense /uː/ before the liquid/milk-like /mɪs/.
The critical feature is the /pj/ onset: the /p/ is released with immediate /j/ so your lips switch from closure to a palatal approximant moment quickly. Visualize curling the tongue toward the palate as you release the /p/, and keep the /uː/ rounded but not overly protruded. The stress stays on the first syllable, so keep the tempo steady from start to finish.
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Pumice comes from the Middle English pumice, derived from the Latin pumicis, meaning ‘pumice stone, pumice.’ The Latin term traces to the ancient Greek word pumikos (πημικος), related to pumis meaning ‘ foam, froth,’ reflecting its vesicular, airy texture. The modern sense in geology and construction emerged in the 16th–18th centuries as scholars and traders described volcanic rocks used for abrasive purposes and light-weight construction materials. Early English usage often referenced pumice for polishing stones in workshops, evolving through the Industrial Age into standard geological terminology. First known English citations appear in early dictionaries and natural history compendia, with expanding usage in quarrying, archaeology, and construction throughout the modern era.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pumice" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Pumice" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Pumice"
-ice sounds
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