6 syllables: self, ex, pla, na, to, ry. Stress on pla.
sel-fik-SPLAN-uh-taw-ree
/sɛlfɪkˈsplænəˌtɔri/
Self-Explanatory is pronounced sel-fik-SPLAN-uh-taw-ree (/sɛlfɪkˈsplænəˌtɔri/). It has six syllables (self-ex-pla-na-to-ry), with the stress on "pla". Self-explanatory means obvious or easily understood, requiring no further clarification. It describes something so clear that its meaning is self-evident, leaving little room for doubt or interpretation. In use, it often refers to statements, diagrams, or instructions that convey their message without extra explanation.
adjectiveSelf-explanatory means obvious or easily understood, requiring no further clarification. It describes something so clear that its meaning is self-evident, leaving little room for doubt or interpretation. In use, it often refers to statements, diagrams, or instructions that convey their message without extra explanation.
"The diagram is self-explanatory; you can follow the steps without any extra instructions."
"Her handwriting was neat and self-explanatory, making the form easy to fill out."
"The label on the package is self-explanatory, showing ingredients and usage at a glance."
You say /ˌsɛlf ˌɛkspləˈneːtɔri/ in broad US and UK English, with primary stress on the second word's last syllable: ex-PLA-nay-tor-ee. The first word is unstressed-ish in linked speech, sounding like 'self' with a short e. Be mindful of the /ˈneː/ in 'explanatory' where the vowel is a long a in many accents. Practice: s-ELF EKS-PLA-nuh-TOH-ree.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (trying to stress 'self' or 'ex-' unusually) and slurring the 'pl' cluster in 'explanatory'. Some learners also mispronounce the final '-ory' as '-ory' with a reduced vowel. Correction: maintain secondary stress on 'ex' and primary on 'tory' syllable: self-EX-pla-nuh-to-ree, ensure the 'pl' is crisp and 'ary' ends with /ri/ rather than /iː/ alone.
In US English you’ll hear /ˌsɛlf ˈɛkˌsplænˌtɔri/ with rhotic r and a clear /æ/ in 'expla'. UK English often uses /ˌself ˌekˈsplæn.tə.r(ɪ)/ with non-rhoticity and a shorter /ɪ/ or schwa in the final syllables. Australian tends to be rhotic but with slightly broader vowels in 'explanation' and a crisp /ɒ/ in 'tory'. Overall, primary stress remains on 'tory'.
The challenge lies in the multi-syllable rhythm and the 'ex' + 'pla' cluster, producing a dense consonant sequence. Learners also struggle with the long-vowel in the 'tory' tail and natural phrase stress when the phrase is used attributively. Focus on clean /kspl/ release, crisp 't' and a clear final '-ri' without reducing to /ri/ too early.
Is the 'explan' portion pronounced with a clear 'x' sound as in 'explain' or is it more 'eks-plän-' with the stem ‘explain’ reused? It uses /ɪkˈsplæn/ in many accents, so you should clearly articulate the k-s sound: 'eks-PLAN-tuh-ree', ensuring the 'pl' cluster is audible and the 't' remains crisp before the final '-ory'.
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Self-explanatory is formed from the compound prefix self- meaning 'by itself, inherent' combined with explain, from Latin explicare 'to unfold, to explain' plus -atory forming adjectives. The sense evolved in English to describe something that explains itself through its form or content, requiring no external clarification. The self- portion emphasizes autonomy or inherent clarity, while explain is rooted in expliquer (French) via Latin explicare. The -ory suffix marks a property or relation. The term likely gained traction in the 18th–19th centuries as technical or instructional language grew more precise, enabling writers to label diagrams, labels, or statements as self-explanatory when their design communicates meaning without additional commentary. The modern sense is used broadly in education, design, and communication to denote intuitive clarity.
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Words that rhyme with "Self-Explanatory"
-ive sounds
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