How to pronounce mellifluous
Say it like muh-LIF-loo-us. Mellifluous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LIF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mellifluous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- muh
- LIF
- loo
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mellifluous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LIFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- looKeep 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 mellifluous
American and British speakers say mellifluous in essentially the same way: /məˈlɪfluəs/ in the US and /məˈlɪfluːəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: muh-LIF-loo-us.
What does mellifluous mean?
- Flowing like honey.
- Sweet, smooth and musical; pleasant to hear (generally used of a person's voice, tone or writing style).
Where does mellifluous come from?
From Middle English mellifluous, mellyfluous, from Latin mellifluus (“flowing like honey”) + -ous, from mel (“honey”) + fluō (“flow”).
Questions about saying mellifluous
How do you pronounce mellifluous?
Say muh-LIF-loo-us. The American pronunciation is /məˈlɪfluəs/. In British English it is /məˈlɪfluːəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mellifluous?
Mellifluous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LIF). Broken into parts: muh · LIF · loo · us.
Do Americans and Brits say mellifluous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /məˈlɪfluəs/ and the British form is /məˈlɪfluːəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.