How to pronounce insidious
Say it like in-SID-ee-us. Insidious has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SID).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce insidious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- SID
- ee
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Insidious 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.
- SIDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- eeGive this part a little weight. 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 insidious
- American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3.
British respelling: in-SID-eers.
What does insidious mean?
- Causing harm in a stealthy, often gradual, manner.
- Intending to entrap; alluring but harmful.“Hansel and Gretel were lured by the witch’s insidious gingerbread house.”
Where does insidious come from?
From Middle French insidieux, from Latin īnsidiōsus (“cunning, artful, deceitful”), from īnsidiae (“a lying in wait, an ambush, artifice, stratagem”) + -ōsus, from īnsideō (“to sit in or on”), from in (“in, on”) + sedeō (“to sit”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with insidious
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of insidious.
Questions about saying insidious
How do you pronounce insidious?
Say in-SID-ee-us. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnˈsɪˌdiəs/. In British English it is /ɪnˈsɪdɪəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in insidious?
Insidious has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SID). Broken into parts: in · SID · ee · us.
Is insidious pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3. The British form is /ɪnˈsɪdɪəs/ (in-SID-eers).