WUHN-druhs
/ˈwʌndɹəs/
wondrous is pronounced WUHN-druhs (/ˈwʌndɹəs/). Wondrous describes something extraordinary or wonderful, inspiring awe. It typically functions as an adjective modifying nouns (e.g., a wondrous scene) or as a predicative complement after linking verbs, conveying strong positive appraisal. The term carries formal or poetic nuance and is often used to emphasize remarkable quality or rarity, rather than casual praise.
Wondrous describes something extraordinary or wonderful, inspiring awe. It typically functions as an adjective modifying nouns (e.g., a wondrous scene) or as a predicative complement after linking verbs, conveying strong positive appraisal. The term carries formal or poetic nuance and is often used to emphasize remarkable quality or rarity, rather than casual praise.
"The night sky above the mountains was truly wondrous."
"Her voice carried a wondrous serenity that calmed the crowd."
"They told a tale of wondrous bravery that left everyone inspired."
Pronounced WON-drous, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US/UK close: /ˈwɒn.drəs/ in UK English and /ˈwɑːn.dɚ.əs/ in many US dialects. The second syllable is a weak, schwa-like /-drəs/ (or /-dros/ in some dialects). Mouth position: begin with a rounded, open back vowel for /ɒ/ or /ɑː/, then move to a light, unstressed /ə/ in the final syllable. Listen for a clean T-like onset in the first syllable and a soft, reduced second vowel.
Common mistakes: 1) Placing stress on the second syllable as WON-dous; correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈwɒn.drəs/. 2) Turning /dr/ into a stronger, clipped cluster; correction: keep /dr/ as a slow, connected cluster with the following /ə/ reduced. 3) Over-pronouncing the final 'ous' as /-us/ or /-oʊs/; correction: end with a light /-əs/ (schwa) sound and avoid a full vowel. Practice with careful syllabic timing to maintain two-syllable rhythm.
US vs UK vs AU show a few shifts: US commonly uses /ˈwɑn.dɚ.əs/ with a rhotic /ɚ/ in the second syllable and a dark /ɜ/ or schwa in some dialects; UK tends toward /ˈwɒn.drəs/ with non-rhotic /r/ (linking to /drəs/). Australian often mirrors UK, with /ˈwɒn.dɹəs/ or /ˈwɒn.dɹəs/ and a less central /ə/; final vowel tends to be a relaxed schwa in all. Emotional tone and vowel quality shift subtly with context; aspirated onset remains consistent across accents.
Two main challenges: the initial /ɒ/ vs /ɑː/ split in British vs American regions, which alters mouth opening and tongue height; and the weak final syllable /əs/ that demands a reduced, quick frail ending. Additionally, maintaining two-syllable rhythm while keeping primary stress on the first syllable requires careful temporal control. Practicing with minimal pairs and slow rhythm helps you secure the correct vowel length and reduction.
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Wondrous comes from Middle English wondrous, formed from the adjective word wondre (or wundre), rooted in Old English wundor meaning 'wonder, marvel, miracle.' The word is tied to the Proto-Germanic *wundraz, from the Indo-European root *wen- meaning 'to strive for, desire,' but in this context it fused with -ous to produce the sense of causing wonder. The modern spelling stabilized in Early Modern English as wondrous or wonderful; pronunciation often shifted toward a more concise 'won-drous.' By the 16th century, wondrous appeared in both literary and religious contexts to describe awe-inspiring phenomena, gradually taking on a slightly elevated, poetic register in general usage. The form ‘wonderous’ exists but is rarer and sometimes treated as archaic; standard modern spelling for most contexts is wondrous, with the pronunciation focusing on the /ˈwɒn.drəs/ in British English and /ˈwɑn.drəs/ or /ˈwɔn.dɚ.əs/ in American English, depending on the speaker and accent. The evolution reflects a shift from a pure adjective meaning ‘full of wonder’ to a token of praise and emphasis in descriptive prose and sermons.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "wondrous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "wondrous"
-ous sounds
-ic) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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