2 syllables: Scru, ples. Stress on Scru.
SKROO-puhlz
/ˈskɹupəlz/
Scruples is pronounced SKROO-puhlz (/ˈskɹupəlz/). It has two syllables (Scru-ples), with the stress on "Scru". Scruples (noun) are personal or ethical concerns that restrain action, especially a hesitation arising from moral considerations. They also refer to ethical standards or principles that influence decisions. The term connotes a sensitive or conscientious scruple about right and wrong in a given situation.
nounScruples (noun) are personal or ethical concerns that restrain action, especially a hesitation arising from moral considerations. They also refer to ethical standards or principles that influence decisions. The term connotes a sensitive or conscientious scruple about right and wrong in a given situation.
- You might flatten the first syllable into /skruː/ with a missing p sound; ensure a crisp /p/ onset and avoid a trailing glottal stop before /pə/. - The final /z/ can be devoiced if you end on a breath; keep the vocal fold vibration and finish with a distinct z. - Some speakers mis-timed the syllable break, belting SCRU-ples; aim for two clean, even syllables: SCRU-plɪz with a short, light second syllable.
How to Pronounce Scruples
"Her scruples prevented her from taking part in the questionable scheme."
"After weighing his scruples, he refused the offer despite the financial gain."
"The committee acted with scruples, ensuring every step complied with formal ethics."
Pronounce it as /ˈskruː.pəlz/. The first syllable bears primary stress: SCRU. The vowel is a long /uː/ as in 'clue', and the second syllable uses a reduced, unstressed /pəl/. The final -s adds a voiced /z/ sound. Tip: start with /skr/ cluster, then elongate /uː/ before a light /pəlz/. You’ll hear the rhythm as two syllables: SCRU-ples with a crisp final z.
Common errors include misplacing the vowel length in the first syllable (short /ɪ/ or /u/), and giving a weak or extraneous final /s/ or /z/ sound. Some speakers reduce the second syllable too much, saying /ˈskrʊ.pəl/ or /ˈskruː.pəlɪ/. Correction: ensure the first syllable has a clear /ˈskruː/ with tensed lips for the /uː/ and finish with /pəlz/, making the final /z/ voiced and audible.
In US/UK/AU, the pronunciation is largely similar: /ˈskruː.pəlz/. Minor differences: rhoticity does not change the word itself, but the preceding vowel quality can be slightly more rounded in some UK accents. In Australian English, vowel height might be marginally more centralized, but the long /uː/ remains, and the final /z/ is consistent. Overall, the main variance is in vowel duration and intonation rather than phoneme substitutions.
Two main challenges: 1) the tricky onset cluster /skr/ requires immediate, precise articulation without an epenthetic vowel; 2) the long /uː/ in the first syllable must be held before the /p/ onset, while the final /z/ must be voiced clearly after a short /əl/ cluster. Mispronunciations often involve shortening /ˈskrʊ/ or dropping the /z/. Practice closing the lips to a tight /uː/ and then gently releasing into /pəlz/ to land the final voiced z correctly.
Most speakers use a reduced vowel in the second syllable, as /pəlz/, with a schwa-like /ə/ or a light /ɫ/ vowel. In careful speech you can hear a subtle schwa before the /l/ (pəls), but common usage leans toward /pəlz/ with a clearer /əl/ vowel. The key is keeping the second syllable unstressed while sustaining the final /z/ voice.
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Scruple originates from the Latin scrupulus, meaning a small, sharp stone or a perplexing doubt. In Latin, scrupulus referred to a small weight or a stone used by a balance, symbolically representing a doubt that weighs on conscience. The word passed into Middle English via Old French scruple, retaining the notion of a tiny, troublesome obstacle or hindrance. Over time, its semantic field narrowed to moral hesitation and concern about right conduct, aligning with the sense of a principled obstacle to action. The earliest uses in English appear in moral or philosophical contexts, where speakers discuss the scruples that restrain behavior when faced with ethically risky choices. By the 16th and 17th centuries, scruple had become established as a noun describing a moral doubt or moment of hesitation, later extending to contexts like professional ethics or personal integrity. In modern usage, scruples commonly refer to ethical concerns that prevent or modify actions, often in moral philosophy, business ethics, and personal decision-making. The term remains closely tied to conscience, principled hesitation, and the weight of moral consideration in decision processes.
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Words that rhyme with "Scruples"
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