How to pronounce curiosity
Say it like kyuur-ee-OS-uh-tee. Curiosity has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (OS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce curiosity. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kyuur
- ee
- OS
- uh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Curiosity pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kyuurGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- OSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of curiosity
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: kyoor-rih-OS-ih-tee.
What does curiosity mean?
- a state in which you want to learn more about something
- something unusual -- perhaps worthy of collecting
Where does curiosity come from?
From Middle English curiosite, variant of curiouste, from Anglo-Norman curiouseté, from Latin cūriōsitātem, accusative of cūriōsitās.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with curiosity
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of curiosity.
Questions about saying curiosity
How do you pronounce curiosity?
Say kyuur-ee-OS-uh-tee. The American pronunciation is /ˌkjʊriˈɑsəti/. In British English it is /kjʊərɪˈɒsɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in curiosity?
Curiosity has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (OS). Broken into parts: kyuur · ee · OS · uh · tee.
Is curiosity 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 /kjʊərɪˈɒsɪti/ (kyoor-rih-OS-ih-tee).