Proper Pronunciation Guide

luxurious

[lʌg̚ ʒʊ͜ɚiəs]

Tips:

  • Pronounce the first letter “u” as the short vowel
    /ʌ/—like the vowel in the word “bus.”
  • Pronounce the letter “x” as a combination of
    /g/ and
    /ʒ/. Stop-but-do-not-explode the letter “g”—/g̚/—at the end of the first syllable and then begin the second syllable with the voiced fricative
    /ʒ/.
  • Pronounce the letters “ur” as the R-Vowel diphthong
    /ʊ͜ɚ/—like the vowel in the word “poor”—and stress them.
  • Use the consonant glide
    /r/ to link from the second to the third syllable—from
    /ʊ͜ɚ/ to
    /i/.
  • Use the y-like consonant glide
    /j/ to link from the third to the final syllable—from
    /i/ to [əs].

Practice Sentence:

 As she sat down, she sank into the luxurious sofa, leaning back against the large pillows.

Definition:

  • (adjective) Possessing great quality and an excess of comfort, pleasure, and enjoyment.

Notes:

The letter “x” is usually pronounced as the voiced combination /gz/ when it occurs before a stressed vowel (exam, exist). In this word the voiced consonant /z/turns to /ʒ/ because it is followed by the vowel /ʊ/ —just like its unvoiced cognate /s/ turns to /ʃ/ before the vowel /ʊ/  in the words “sure” and “sugar.”

  • Past Week’s Words

    Pronunciation Key for phonetic symbols

    sign up for Spoken Word Power which will have all the Words of the Day since 2004.

    Private Instruction from Brian