How to pronounce innocuous
Say it like in-OK-yoo-us. Innocuous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce innocuous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- OK
- yoo
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Innocuous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- OKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of innocuous
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: ih-NOK-yoo-us.
What does innocuous mean?
- Harmless; producing no ill effect.
- Inoffensive; unprovocative; unexceptionable.
Where does innocuous come from?
From Latin innocuus (“harmless”) (therefore, no gemination in + nocuous).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying innocuous
How do you pronounce innocuous?
Say in-OK-yoo-us. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪˈnɑkjuəs/. In British English it is /ɪˈnɒkjuəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in innocuous?
Innocuous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OK). Broken into parts: in · OK · yoo · us.
Is innocuous 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 /ɪˈnɒkjuəs/ (ih-NOK-yoo-us).