How to pronounce curious
Say it like KYUUR-ee-us. Curious has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KYUUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce curious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KYUUR
- ee
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Curious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KYUURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of curious
American and British speakers say curious in essentially the same way: /ˈkjʊriəs/ in the US and /ˈkjʊəriəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: KYOOR-ree-us.
What does curious mean?
- beyond or deviating from the usual or expected“a curious hybrid accent”“her speech has a funny twang”
- eager to investigate and learn or learn more (sometimes about others' concerns)“a curious child is a teacher's delight”“a trap door that made me curious”
Where does curious come from?
From Middle English curious, from Old French curius, from Latin cūriōsus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with curious
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of curious.
Questions about saying curious
How do you pronounce curious?
Say KYUUR-ee-us. The American pronunciation is /ˈkjʊriəs/. In British English it is /ˈkjʊəriəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in curious?
Curious has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KYUUR). Broken into parts: KYUUR · ee · us.
Do Americans and Brits say curious the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkjʊriəs/ and the British form is /ˈkjʊəriəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.