VAL-yoo-luhs
/ˈvæljuləs/
valueless is pronounced VAL-yoo-luhs (/ˈvæljuləs/). Valueless is an adjective meaning having no value or worth. It is used to describe something deemed worthless or without significance. The term often conveys strong judgement or critique, and can be applied in economic, moral, or rhetorical contexts to indicate lack of usefulness or value.
Valueless is an adjective meaning having no value or worth. It is used to describe something deemed worthless or without significance. The term often conveys strong judgement or critique, and can be applied in economic, moral, or rhetorical contexts to indicate lack of usefulness or value.
- You might flatten the /juː/ into a quick /ju/ or /juː/ that sounds off; ensure the glide is accurate and not swallowed. - Another pitfall is rushing the ending /ləs/, causing a weak /ə/ or /ɪ/; keep the final /əs/ crisp with a light /s/ at the end. - Some learners misplace the primary stress, thinking VAL- as in 'valet' rather than the actual first syllable stress; keep strong initial emphasis and ensure the middle is not reduced. Practice slow: VAL- yOO -ləs, then gradually speed to normal. - Don’t let the /l/ fuse with the /j/: avoid 'valyoo-lis' by keeping a clean /l/ and a clear /j/ before the vowel. - Finally, many fail to sustain the /juː/; ensure the /uː/ is long enough before the /l/.
"The artifact was considered valueless after years of deterioration."
"In his argument, any suggestion that is valueless should be dismissed."
"The app received valueless feedback that didn’t help improve its features."
Pronounce as /ˈvæl.juː.ləs/ (US) or /ˈvæl.juː.ləs/ (UK/AU). Start with VAL as in 'valve', then a clear 'you' sound [juː], and finish with -lous as /ləs/. The middle /juː/ is a stressed secondary nucleus; ensure the glide is smooth from /l/ to /j/ to /uː/. Tip: keep your jaw slightly closed for the /juː/ vowel. Audio references: Cambridge/OWL dictionaries or Forvo entries show native pronunciation.
Two common errors are mispronouncing the middle /juː/ as a short /jʊ/ (like 'you' in quick speech) and misplacing the /l/ sequence, leading to /ˈvæ.lə.ləs/ or /ˈvælju.ləs/ without the clear /juː/ vowel. Correct by holding a longer /uː/ quality after /j/ and ensuring the /l/ is light but not swallowed. Practice with minimal pairs: /væl/ vs /vælˈjuː/ to fix the glide. Listening to native speech helps align mouth position.
In General American, the vowel in /juː/ tends to be a clear, elongated diphthong [juː]. In many UK accents, the /juː/ can verge toward a slightly longer, tenser [jʊə] in some speakers, producing a subtle centering. Australian English tends to retain a pure [juː] with less diphthongal shift, but some speakers may show a mild /uː/ influence depending on regional variety. The initial /æ/ remains stable across accents, while the final /əs/ often reduces to /əs/ or /əsː/ in fast speech.
The difficult part is the seamless transition from /æ/ in /væl/ to the /juː/ glide and then to the /ləs/ ending. The middle /juː/ requires a precise tongue position: front of the mouth for the /j/ then a rounded back vowel for /uː/. Beginners often shorten the /juː/ or merge the /l/ with the preceding vowel. Focus on the three-phoneme nucleus VAL + -U- + LUS; practice with slow repetition and casting the glide clearly before the /l/.
A unique aspect is the two-consonant cluster around the sticky /l/ in /ljuː/ sequence where the 'l' interacts with the following /j/—you should avoid a 'luy' blend and instead separate the /l/ and /j/ with a quick, distinct transition. This subtle separation helps avoid slurred speech and preserves the distinct /juː/ glide.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "valueless"!
- US: emphasize rhoticity lightly; the /r/ is not involved in valueless, but you want to avoid adding extra vowel length after the /juː/. - UK: maintain non-rhotic tendency; keep final syllable unstressed with a crisp /ə/ before /s/. - AU: generally similar to US/UK with a stronger tendency toward vowel clustering; keep /juː/ clear and avoid shortening. - Vowel quality: /æ/ in /væl/ should be open-front; /juː/ is a high back rounded vowel; /ləs/ has a light, reduced schwa-like /ə/; keep the /s/ crisp. - IPA references: /ˈvæl.juː.ləs/ across all varieties; consider the subtle vowel shifts in different dialects for naturalness.
Valueless combines the prefix 'val-' from Old French val, valeur, meaning value or worth (ultimately from Latin validus meaning strong, healthy). The suffix '-less' comes from Old English -leas, meaning without, lacking. The compound likely formed in Middle English or Early Modern English when adjectives formed by combining value with -less to indicate absence were productive. The modern sense of 'without value' emerged in the 18th- to 19th-century idiomatic usage as industrial and economic vocabulary expanded. Early uses framed valueless as morally or economically insignificant; later contexts broadened to include abstract significance. The term has remained stable in meaning, often used pejoratively to dismiss ideas, objects, or data that are considered not worth considering due to lack of utility or merit. First known uses are found in technical, economic, and philosophical writings of the 1700s–1800s, evolving with the refinement of value theory.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "valueless" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "valueless" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "valueless" 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 "valueless"
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.
