4 syllables: sex, ual in, ter, course. Stress on sex.
sek-syoo-uh-LIN-tur-kawrs
/ˈsɛks ju əl ˈɪn tɚ kɔɹs/
Sexual Intercourse is pronounced sek-syoo-uh-LIN-tur-kawrs (/ˈsɛks ju əl ˈɪn tɚ kɔɹs/). It has four syllables (sex-ual in-ter-course), with the stress on "sex". As a noun, a formal term for the act of sexual activity between two or more people, typically used in medical, legal, or descriptive contexts. It refers to the physical interaction intended for reproduction or pleasure and is discussed within intimate or educational settings. The phrase is clinical in tone and often replaced with euphemisms in casual conversation.
nounA formal term for the act of sexual activity between two or more people, typically used in medical, legal, or descriptive contexts. It refers to the physical interaction intended for reproduction or pleasure and is discussed within intimate or educational settings. The phrase is clinical in tone and often replaced with euphemisms in casual conversation.
"The doctor explained that sexual intercourse requires consent and safe practices."
"They discussed the potential risks of sexual intercourse without protection."
"In health class, we learned about anatomy and when sexual intercourse should be avoided."
US: /ˈsek.ju.əl ˈɪn.ər.kɔrs/; UK: /ˈsek.ju.əl ˈɪn.kɔːs/; AU: /ˈsek.ju.əl ˈɪn.ə.kɔːs/. Primary stress on first syllable of each word. Segment the words as SEX-ual IN-tercourse, with clear separation between the two words. The second word ends with a hard /s/ in most dialects. Ensure the /ɪn/ of intercourse is light and the /k/ is crisp. Audio reference: You can hear it on medical pronunciation playlists or pronunciation tools like Forvo or YouGlish by searching ‘sexual intercourse’.
Two common errors: 1) Slurring the second word by not stressing the first syllable of intercourse, making it /ɪˈnkɔrs/ instead of /ˈɪnər.kɔrs/. 2) Misplacing the stress, saying /ˈse.kjuaɫ ˈɪnərˌkɔrs/ with incorrect secondary stress. Correction: emphasize the first syllable of sexual (ˈsek.ju.əl) and keep intercourse as a trochaic pattern (ˈɪnərˌkɔrs), with the final /s/ crisp. Practice with isolated and connected speech and record yourself.
US tends to rhotic /ɹ/ and a sharper /ɪ/ in ’intercourse’; UK is non-rhotic, with smoother /ɪə/ in ‘intercourse’ in some accents; AU blends can be a bit flatter with less pronounced /t/ and a more relaxed /ə/. Overall, US = /ˈsek.ju.əl ˈɪn.ər.kɔrs/, UK = /ˈsek.ju.əl ˈɪn.kɔːs/, AU = /ˈsek.ju.əl ˈɪnə.kɔːs/. Listen for rhoticity and vowel length differences. IPA notes: US /ɹ/ pronounced, UK non-rhotic; vowel quality shifts like /ər/ vs /ə/.
Because of the two-word boundary with distinct phonotactics: sexual blends /ˈsek.ju.əl/ has a subtle three-syllable flow and a final /əl/ with schwa-like reduce; intercourse adds a cluster /nər.kɔrs/ that can challenge linking and stress. The /j/ glide after /k/ in /ˈsek.ju.əl/ can also be tricky if you tense the jaw. Focus on separating the two words, emphasize the first syllables, and practice the /ɪn.ər.kɔrs/ sequence with controlled tone.
In standard English, the /k/ in sexual is a hard plosive at the onset of the 'cular' syllable, as in /ˈsek.ju.əl/. The 'k' is a voiceless velar stop; you’ll want secure elevation of the back of the tongue against the soft palate and a crisp release. There is no softening of the /k/ in quiet speech; keep the release distinct to avoid slurring the word into ‘sexy-oo-l’. IPA guides the hard /k/ in all major dialects.
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US differences: rhotic /ɹ/ present; clearer /ɪ/ and /ər/ sequences. UK: non-rhotic; lengthened /ɔː/ in ’intercourse’ for some accents; AU: flatter vowels, less pronounced r-coloring, similar rhotic tendencies to US in many speakers but with broader vowels. Guided IPA usage: US /ˈsek.ju.əl ˈɪn.ɚ.kɔɹs/, UK /ˈsek.ju.əl ˈɪn.kɔːs/, AU /ˈsek.ju.əl ˈɪn.ə.kɔːs/. Practical tips: exaggerate the first syllable of sexual, keep the second word’s nucleus minimal and crisp, and practice final /s/ with a clear release. Refer to IPA charts and practice with native speakers across regions.
The term sexual intercourse derives from Latin. Sexual comes from Latin sexus ‘sex, gender, division’ and is related to sexus as in physical or sexual in nature. Intercourse comes from Latin intercurre, from inter- ‘between’ and currere ‘to run, to go’. The figurative sense of “to come between” or “to communicate” evolved in the 17th–18th centuries, with medical and legal discourse adopting “sexual intercourse” as a clinical descriptor for reproductive or intimate activity. The combined phrase appears in English medical texts by the 19th century, reflecting a shift toward formal, non-euphemistic terminology in scientific and legal contexts. First known uses appear in early 1800s medical literature, with broader adoption in the 19th and early 20th centuries as sexual health and reproductive rights discussions expanded.
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Words that rhyme with "Sexual Intercourse"
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