2 syllables: Sioux, sie. Stress on Sioux.
SOOK-see
/ˈsuːk.siː/
Siouxsie is pronounced SOOK-see (/ˈsuːk.siː/). It has two syllables (Sioux-sie), with the stress on "Sioux". Siouxsie is a proper noun used as a given name (notably as the stage name of Siouxsie Sioux). It denotes a specific person or persona and carries artistic and cultural associations. In pronunciation discussions, it is treated as a fixed name with a non-intuitive vowel sequence that can challenge unfamiliar speakers.
nounSiouxsie is a proper noun used as a given name (notably as the stage name of Siouxsie Sioux). It denotes a specific person or persona and carries artistic and cultural associations. In pronunciation discussions, it is treated as a fixed name with a non-intuitive vowel sequence that can challenge unfamiliar speakers.
- You will commonly over-articulate the middle syllable, treating it as a full vowel instead of a quick schwa. Do not add extra stress there; let SEE lead and KSOO finish. - Final cluster /kˈsuː/ can be blurred if you rush; ensure a crisp /k/ release and a long /uː/. Practice by segmenting: SEE - schwa - KSOO, then blend. - Final vowel length often shortens in casual speech; keep the final /uː/ long to preserve the name’s cadence.
How to Pronounce Siouxsie
"Siouxsie performed a haunting set that night."
"We studied Siouxsie’s vocal style in the music class."
"The documentary about Siouxsie Sioux explored her influence on goth rock."
Siouxsie is pronounced as SEE-uh-ksoo with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ˈsiː.ə.kˈsuː/. Break it into three segments: SEE (a long i sound), uh (schwa), and KSOO (a long u sound). The middle syllable is a mid-central vowel, and the final vowel is a long
Common errors include treating the middle vowel as a full vowel rather than a schwa, which flattens the name; misplacing the final /suː/ as /su/ or /suːz/; and under-stressing the first syllable so it sounds like See-OO instead of SEE-uh. Correct by emphasizing SEE, then a soft central schwa, then a crisp K + long U sound. Use IPA cues: /ˈsiː.ə.kˈsuː/.
Across US/UK/AU, the core segments remain, but rhoticity affects the rareness of /r/ in environments; the /ˈsiː/ onset tends to be slightly tenser in British speech, while Americans often have a clearer /ːi/ followed by a stronger /ɹ/ or none after the schwa. In Australian speech, the vowels may be slightly flatter and there may be a more rounded /uː/ at the end; otherwise the sequence remains SEE-uh-KSOO with similar stress pattern.
The difficulty stems from the unusual vowel sequence and the nonstandard spelling: SEE-uh-kSOO. The middle vowel is a schwa, which is easy to mispronounce as a full vowel, changing the name’s cadence. The final /suː/ can blur if spoken quickly. Pay attention to the three-syllable rhythm and keep the final consonant cluster clear: /ˈsiː.ə.kˈsuː/.
The middle syllable is not silent; it’s a reduced vowel (schwa) /ə/. It’s lightly voiced and very quick, serving as a connective segment between SEE and KSOO. Don’t stress it heavily; instead, maintain a smooth flow: /ˈsiː.ə.kˈsuː/.
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- US: stress on the first syllable; longer, purer /iː/ in SEE; non-rhotic but place focus on the /suː/ at the end; aim for a clear /ˈsiː.ə.kˈsuː/. - UK: strong first syllable, mid central schwa; final /suː/ with rounded lips; maintain crisp /k/ release. - AU: similar to US/UK, with slightly flatter vowels; watch for a less rhotic ending and a prominent schwa; keep final /suː/ rounded and long. IPA: /ˈsiː.ə.kˈsuː/ across all three varieties. - Refer to specific phonetic cues: SEE (front, high, tense), schwa (central, relaxed), K (velar stop), S (alveolar), Uː (back high, long).
Siouxsie originates from the stage name of Susan Janet Ballion, better known as Siouxsie Sioux, born in 1957. The name was adopted as a deliberate stylistic choice within the UK post-punk and gothic scenes. The spelling Siouxsie mirrors the broad, mythic “Sioux” identity reference rather than a literal Sioux tribe designation. The pronunciation converges on a diphthongal, slightly softened vowel sequence that doesn’t map cleanly to standard English spelling. The coalescence of “Siouxsie” as a proper name formed in the late 1970s with the rise of the band Siouxsie and the Banshees, gaining notoriety through recordings and live performances. The name has since been adopted in various media to denote a distinct artistic persona, with pronunciation that many English speakers learn via exposure to the artist. The first widely recognized public rendering in print aligned with the singer’s own usage during early interviews and album credits, reinforcing the canonical pronunciation in contemporary usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Siouxsie"
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