5 syllables: Su, per, ci, li, ous. Stress on ci.
soo-pur-SIL-ee-uhs
/ˌsupɚˈsɪliəs/
Supercilious is pronounced soo-pur-SIL-ee-uhs (/ˌsupɚˈsɪliəs/). It has five syllables (Su-per-ci-li-ous), with the stress on "ci". Supercilious is an adjective describing someone who behaves as if they are superior to others, often displaying disdain or contempt. It conveys a haughty, condescending attitude and a sense of self-importance, typically in social or professional contexts. The term implies outward facial expressions or mannerisms that signal arrogance rather than genuine competence.
adjectiveSupercilious is an adjective describing someone who behaves as if they are superior to others, often displaying disdain or contempt. It conveys a haughty, condescending attitude and a sense of self-importance, typically in social or professional contexts. The term implies outward facial expressions or mannerisms that signal arrogance rather than genuine competence.
- You might slur the middle syllables, making /pər/ merge with /sɪ/; practice with syllable-by-syllable drills and tap them in rhythm. - The stress often shifts incorrectly; ensure the primary stress lands on cil: su-per-CIL-i-ous. Practice by saying it slowly: su-per-CIL-i-ous, then speed up while keeping the stress fixed. - Final cluster /i.əs/ can become /əs/ or /iəs/; train your mouth to finish with a crisp /i.əs/ or /iəs/ depending on your accent. Use minimal pairs to confirm the ending: cil/ious vs cil/ious in connected speech. - Avoid an overly sharp /s/ before the /l/; maintain a smooth transition from /l/ to /j/ (if you hear it) and then to /əs/.
"Her supercilious shrug told me she felt above the common concerns of the team."
"The client’s supercilious tone made the consultant uncomfortable from the start."
"He gave a supercilious smile, as if to remind us who was in charge."
Pronounce it as /ˌsuː.pərˈsɪl.i.əs/. The primary stress is on the second-to-last syllable: cil. Start with a long /uː/ in the first syllable, then a schwa /ər/ in the second, followed by /ˈsɪl/ with a clear short i, then /i.əs/ to finish. The sequence is su-per-CIL-i-ous. Tip: keep the syllables light and quick in rapid speech. For audio reference, listen to enunciation resources like Pronounce or pronunciation channels that model the standard American pronunciation.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (trying to stress the 'su' or 'per' syllable instead of 'cil'), truncating the '-ious' ending to /-əs/ or /-iəs/ without the full /-i.əs/ sequence, and slurring the /r/ in the second syllable in non-rhotic accents. Correction: practice the exact stress on cil: /ˌsuː.pərˈsɪl.i.əs/ and articulate the ending as /i.əs/. Use slow repetition and minimal pairs to fix the rhythm: su-per-CIL-i-ous, then speed up while maintaining clear /l/ and /s/.”
In US English, the sequence tends to be /ˌsuː.pɚˈsɪl.i.əs/ with a rhotic /ɚ/ in the second syllable. UK English often features a non-rhotic /ˌsuː.pəˈsɪl.i.əs/ or /ˌsuː.pəˈsɪl.i.əs/ with a shorter, clipped first vowels. Australian tends to resemble US rhotic pronunciation but with a slightly broader vowels and a less pronounced /ɪ/ in the syllable /sɪl/. The core /sɪl/ is common, but vowel quality and rhoticity shift slightly by region. Listen for the stress on cil and the final /-i.əs/.” ,
The difficulty lies in the multisyllabic structure with a mid-word stress shift to cil, and the cluster /sr/ in /ˈsɪl.i.əs/ uncommon for some speakers. The sequence /sjuː/ vs /suː/ in the first syllable can cause vowel length confusion, and the final /-i.əs/ can blur into /-iəs/ or /-əs/ if rushed. Practice by isolating the syllables, then linking them slowly to feel the mouth positions for /ˈsɪl/ and /ˌi.əs/, ensuring the /r/ in rhotic varieties is precise.
A unique aspect is the clear distinction between the syllables cil and ious, with a distinct /l/ and a light /i/ in the final cluster. The /-ious/ ending behaves like /-i.əs/ in careful speech, not /-ioʊs/ or /-əs/. Keeping the middle /r/ sound light in non-rhotic accents helps avoid blending into /s/ sequences. Emphasize the secondary syllable boundary before the final /i.əs/ to preserve cadence and rhythm.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/ in /ˌsuː.pɚˈsɪl.i.əs/. Keep the r-controlled vowel in the second syllable; avoid dropping the /ɹ/. - UK: non-rhotic; the second syllable becomes /ˌsuː.pəˈsɪl.i.əs/ with a shorter schwa in the second syllable; ensure the /l/ is clear and not absorbed by the following /ɪ/. - AU: tends toward US-like rhoticity but with a broader diphthong in /uː/ and a slightly flatter /ɪ/; maintain clear /l/ as in /ˈsɪl.i.əs/ in the final cluster. Reference IPA and adjust tongue posture to keep vowels distinct.
Supercilious originates from the Latin word superciliosus, formed from super- meaning “above” or “over” and cilium meaning “eyebrow.” Historically, it described the raising of the eyebrow as a sign of disdain. The word entered English through borrowed classical learning, catching on in the 17th–18th centuries as vocabulary for social satire and high-society critique. Early uses framed behavior as a facial expression tied to social rank, and the sense of ‘looking down on others’ solidified over time. The word’s precise biological image—elevating the eyebrow to signal superiority—permeated its metaphorical usage. In modern English, supercilious retains its liteacademic nuance, often appearing in literary or evaluative contexts to critique patronizing or contemptuous attitudes. By the Victorian and Edwardian eras, it had cemented a position as a polished, somewhat formal term, preferred in writing over simpler synonyms when the writer wishes to emphasize calculated arrogance rather than mere vanity.
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Words that rhyme with "Supercilious"
-ous sounds
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