2 syllables: Strat, us. Stress on Strat.
STRAT-uhs
/ˈstɹætəs/
Stratus is pronounced STRAT-uhs (/ˈstɹætəs/). It has two syllables (Strat-us), with the stress on "Strat". Stratus is a low, horizontally layered cloud type that blankets the sky. In meteorology, it denotes clouds forming a uniform gray sheet, often bringing drizzle. The term can also appear in broader technical contexts to describe flat, layered surfaces, or in metaphorical usage to describe a broad, even atmosphere.
nounStratus is a low, horizontally layered cloud type that blankets the sky. In meteorology, it denotes clouds forming a uniform gray sheet, often bringing drizzle. The term can also appear in broader technical contexts to describe flat, layered surfaces, or in metaphorical usage to describe a broad, even atmosphere.
"The airplane drifted through a thick stratus cloud deck, obscuring the horizon."
"Meteorologists warned of light drizzle as stratus clouds hung low over the coast."
"During the flight, we encountered a flat, stratus-like layer that reduced visibility."
Say STRA-tus with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU ˈstræ.təs. Start with /str/ as in street, then the short /a/ as in cat, and finish with a soft /təs/—the /t/ is a light release, and the second syllable ends with a schwa /ə/ before the final /s/. Audio reference: familiar English pronunciations of 'strat' + 'us' can be found in pronunciation resources; try listening for the crisp /str/ onset and the short /æ/ before the final unstressed syllable.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the /t/ and /r/ so it blends into /tr/ without a crisp stop; (2) Using a long /æ/ in the second syllable or duplicating a stressed second syllable—keep the second syllable unstressed with a quick /ə/; (3) Pronouncing the final /s/ as a voiceless /z/ in rapid speech can blur clarity—aim for a clear /s/ after /ə/. Correction: articulate the /æ/ in STRA clearly, release into a light /t/ then a relaxed /ə/ followed by /s/.
US/UK/AU share the same primary stress pattern, but vowel quality differs slightly: US tends to a slightly more open /æ/ in the first syllable, UK often has a marginally tenser vowel, and AU may showcase a broader, more centralized /æ/ with a softer final /s/. The /r/ is non-rhotic in many UK varieties, so you may hear a subtler /r/ or none before the vowel; in US and AU, /r/ is generally pronounced if immediately before a vowel, but in 'Stratus' there’s typically no following vowel, so rhoticity is minimal.
Two challenges: (1) the initial cluster /str/ requires precise articulation; the /s/ must transition smoothly into /t/ without hiccup. (2) The second syllable is unstressed and relies on a quick schwa-/ə/ sound, which English learners often over-articulate. Practice by isolating the onset /str/ with a crisp stop on /t/, then glide into a soft /ə/ and end with a clear /s/. IPA cues: /ˈstræ.təs/; focus on timing between the stressed and unstressed syllables.
Stratus has a predictable stress pattern: first syllable is stressed. There are no silent letters in standard pronunciation; all letters contribute to the sound: /s t r/ onset, /æ/ then /t/ in the first syllable, and /əs/ in the second with a reduced vowel. The key is maintaining a distinct /æ/ in the first syllable and a light /ə/ in the second, ensuring the final /s/ remains crisp.
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Stratus comes from the Late Latin stratus, from Latin sternere ‘to spread, lay out, spread out.’ The root stratus is related to the Latin past participle stratus meaning spread flat, which in turn connects to the Greek streptos ‘twisted’ in some related cloud terms. The word entered English through scientific and meteorological usage in the 17th–18th centuries as scholars formalized cloud classifications, part of the broader Latin-derived taxonomy of stratus, cumulus, cirrus and alto. Over time, stratus retained its core meaning of a flat, layered cloud sheet, and has seen extensions in both meteorology and metaphorical usage to describe anything broad, uniform, or layer-like. First known printed uses appear in early modern meteorological texts, where observers described cloud formations in precise stratified terms. In contemporary use, stratus remains a precise technical term in weather reports and is occasionally employed in literature to convey a sense of even, oppressive uniformity.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Stratus" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Stratus"
-tus sounds
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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