How to pronounce circumlocution
Say it like sur-kum-luh-KYOO-shun. Circumlocution has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (KYOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce circumlocution. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sur
- kum
- luh
- KYOO
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Circumlocution pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- surGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- kumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- luhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- KYOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of circumlocution
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: sur-kum-luh-KYOO-shun.
What does circumlocution mean?
- A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; thus
- Unnecessary use of extra words to express an idea, such as a pleonastic phrase (sometimes driven by an attempt at emphatic clarity) or a wordy substitution (the latter driven by euphemistic intent, pedagogic intent, or sometimes loquaciousness alone).
- Necessary use of a phrase to circumvent either a vocabulary fault (of speaker or listener) or a lexical gap, either monolingually or in translation.
Where does circumlocution come from?
From Latin circumlocūtiō (“the act of speaking around; circumlocution, periphrasis”).
Words that rhyme with circumlocution
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of circumlocution.
- solution
- distribution
- resolution
- constitution
- revolution
- evolution
- institution
- contribution
- execution
- pollution
Questions about saying circumlocution
How do you pronounce circumlocution?
Say sur-kum-luh-KYOO-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌsɝkəmləˈkjuʃən/. In British English it is /ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in circumlocution?
Circumlocution has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (KYOO). Broken into parts: sur · kum · luh · KYOO · shun.
Is circumlocution pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃən/ (sur-kum-luh-KYOO-shun).