How to pronounce conscientious
Say it like kon-shee-EN-shus. Conscientious has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (EN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce conscientious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kon
- shee
- EN
- shus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Conscientious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- konGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- sheeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- shusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of conscientious
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: kon-shih-EN-shus.
What does conscientious mean?
- Thorough, careful, or vigilant in one’s task performance; painstaking.“He was a thoughtful and conscientious worker.”
- Influenced by conscience; principled; governed by a strict regard to the dictates of conscience, or by the known or supposed rules of right and wrong (said of a person).“The advice of wise and conscientious people.”
Where does conscientious come from?
From Middle French conscientieux, from Medieval Latin cōnscientiōsus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with conscientious
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of conscientious.
Questions about saying conscientious
How do you pronounce conscientious?
Say kon-shee-EN-shus. The American pronunciation is /ˌkɑnʃiˈɛnʃəs/. In British English it is /ˌkɒnʃɪˈɛnʃəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in conscientious?
Conscientious has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (EN). Broken into parts: kon · shee · EN · shus.
Is conscientious pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌkɒnʃɪˈɛnʃəs/ (kon-shih-EN-shus).