Voluptuous is an adjective describing something or someone with a curving, full, or richly appealing form, often used of bodies, shapes, and sensory experiences. It conveys a sense of lush abundance and indulgent allure, typically with a slightly sensual or indulgent connotation. The term implies voluptuousness as a distinctive, aesthetically pleasing fullness rather than mere size.
"Her dress hung in a voluptuous cascade of velvet folds, accentuating her silhouette."
"The painter captured the voluptuous curves of the landscape with sweeping, generous strokes."
"The room had a voluptuous warmth, with plush fabrics and soft lighting."
"She exuded a voluptuous confidence that drew people's attention wherever she went."
Voluptuous derives from the Late Latin voluptuosus, from voluptas meaning 'delight, pleasure' (from Latin volup- 'pleasure' from voluere 'to roll, wish'). The root voluptas appeared in classical Latin in contexts of pleasure and delight; -uosus is a Latin adjectival suffix meaning 'full of' or 'having the quality of.' Through Old French voluteus and Middle English, the word entered English with the sense of rich, sensuous appeal. The modern sense coalesced in the 16th to 18th centuries, often describing physical forms or sensuous abundance, with connotations of indulgence and erotic allure. Over time, voluptuous broadened to refer not only to body shape but to sumptuous richness in appearance, texture, or atmosphere, retaining a slightly luxurious or decadent nuance. First known use in English appears in the 15th to 16th centuries in literary contexts, expanding in usage as fashion and taste evolved toward more expressive descriptions of form and aesthetics.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Voluptuous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Voluptuous"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Say /vəˈlʌp.tʃu.əs/ in US/UK/AU alike. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: vo-LUP-tu-ous. Start with a schwa /ə/ for the first syllable, then /ˈlʌp/ (lip position mid-back with rounded lips), followed by /tʃu/ (palato-alveolar affricate ‘ch’ plus a long 'u' as in 'you'), and end with a light /əs/ or /əs/.”,
Common errors: misplacing primary stress (say VOL-uptuous instead of vo-LUP-tu-ous); blending /tʃ/ into /ʃ/ or mispronouncing /ʌ/ as /æ/; and dropping the final schwa, giving /ˈlʌp.tuː/ or /ˈlʌp.tɪəs/. Correct by isolating syllables, practicing vo-LUP-tu-ous with a clear /tʃ/ as in 'cheap-chool', and finishing with a soft, relaxed /əs/.”,
Across accents, stress and vowel qualities shift slightly. In US English, the /ə/ initial is relaxed; /ˈlʌp/ has a clear 'l' and short /ʌ/. UK accents may have a slightly higher /ʌ/ and crisper /tʃ/; AU often retains a rounded lip and may reduce the final /əs/ to /əs/ with a subtler vowel. The palato-alveolar /tʃ/ remains consistent, but the overall vowel rhythm can feel more connected in UK/AU.”,
The challenges include the three-syllable cadence with a mid-stressed second syllable, the /tʃ/ cluster after a stressed vowel, and the final unstressed /əs/ which can reduce to a schwa. Additionally, balancing the front palate position for /tʃ/ with the back-of-mouth /ə/ requires careful jaw and tongue coordination. Practicing syllable-by-syllable helps stabilize the rhythm and articulation.
There are no truly silent letters in Voluptuous, but the final -ous is often pronounced quickly as /-əs/ rather than a full /-oʊ. The middle /lʌp/ includes a short, tense /ʌ/ and a /tʃ/ blend that can trip you up in fast speech. Emphasize the /ˈlʌp/ cluster and make sure the /tʃ/ is audible, not merged with /u/.”]},
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