uhn-PLEZ-uhnt
/ənˈplɛzənt/
unpleasant is pronounced uhn-PLEZ-uhnt (/ənˈplɛzənt/). Unpleasant describes something disagreeable or offensive to the senses or feelings. The word conveys a sense of discomfort or revulsion and is commonly used to describe experiences, odors, behaviors, or situations that are not pleasant. It often carries a subtle, negative nuance beyond merely 'not pleasant.'.
Unpleasant describes something disagreeable or offensive to the senses or feelings. The word conveys a sense of discomfort or revulsion and is commonly used to describe experiences, odors, behaviors, or situations that are not pleasant. It often carries a subtle, negative nuance beyond merely 'not pleasant.'
"The smell from the kitchen was unpleasant and almost made him gag."
"Her reaction to the news was unpleasant, reflecting a mix of anger and disappointment."
"The damp basement had an unpleasant chill that soaked through his coat."
Pronounce as /ənˈplez.ənt/. Break into syllables: uhn-PLEZ-ənt. Primary stress on the second syllable. Start with a schwa sonority /ə/ for the first syllable, then /ˈplez/ with a clear 'plez' like please, then /ənt/ with a light, unstressed vowel and final nasal /n/. Mouth positions: neutral initial, then lips neutral for /ɫ/? Actually /pl/ has a rounded lip start for /p/ release before /l/, tongue at alveolar ridge for /l/ and /z/ produced with voiced alveolar fricative; end with /ənt/.
Common errors: (1) Stress location shifted to first syllable as un-PLEZ-ənt; correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable: un-PLEZ-ənt. (2) Slurring /plez/ into /plezɪ/ or mispronouncing /nt/ as a simple /n/; correction: clearly articulate /t/ after the nasal, giving a crisp /nt/ ending. (3) Vowel quality: replacing /ə/ with a more tense vowel in the first syllable; correction: maintain a neutral schwa /ə/ or /ʌ/ depending on speaker; (4) Final 'nt' may become 't' only or 'nt' with a nasal vowel; ensure you finish with /nt/ rather than stopping at /n/.
In US, UK, and AU, primary stress remains on the second syllable /ˈplez/; differences lie in vowel color and rhoticity: US tends to be rhotic, so you may hear a slightly rhotic nucleus in /ər/? Actually 'unpleasant' ends with /ənt/; rhoticity has limited effect on final consonant. UK and AU speakers often use a non-rhotic or weaker 'r' not present in the word, but since the word has no /r/, the difference is mainly vowel quality: US /ənˈplez.ənt/ with a broader /æ/ or /ɛ/? No, /plez/ uses /e/ as in 'please'. AU tends to vowel shift with broader vowels; but generally evidence: /ənˈplez.ənt/ is broadly similar; slight diphthongization of /ə/ in some Australian accents.
It blends a multi-syllable rhythm with a stressed middle syllable and a final unstressed schwa with a nasal-consonant cluster /nt/. The tricky parts are maintaining the secondary stability of the schwa in initial syllable and the crisp /plez/ cluster, as well as not recording the 'un-' as a separate strong syllable. The transition from /ən/ to /ˈplez/ requires precise timing to avoid a clipped first syllable or slurred middle. Practice with isolated segments helps to stabilize the timing.
A unique consideration is that the prefix un- creates a negative polarity while the root 'pleasant' has a strong positive association; the contrast can create a perceptual emphasis on 'plez' rather than the prefix. Stress remains second syllable; ensure the first syllable does not become a reduced but still audible /ən/ to keep natural rhythm and avoid sounding abrupt.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "unpleasant"!
Unpleasant originates from the combination of the prefix un- meaning 'not' or 'opposite of' and the adjective pleasant. The adjective pleasant stems from Middle English pleasaunt, from Old French plaissant (present participle of plaire ‘to please’), itself from Latin placēre ‘to please’. The sense evolved in Early Modern English to describe things that pleased or pleased in a good way, while ‘un-’ negation extended to describe things that are not pleasing, disagreeable, or not agreeable. By the 16th-17th centuries, unpleasant was widely used to describe sensations, circumstances, or ideas that caused discomfort or aversion, and later broadened to moral or social disfavor (e.g., unpleasant behavior). The word is thus a compound: un- (negative prefix) + pleasant (from Old French pleisir, related to Latin placēre). The semantic trajectory tracks a common English pattern where negation prefixes turn positive adjectives into their opposite meanings, preserving both literal and figurative senses across centuries.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "unpleasant" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "unpleasant" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "unpleasant" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "unpleasant"
-me) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
See how this word is used in our articles
