How to pronounce onerous
Say it like ON-uh-rus. Onerous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce onerous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ON
- uh
- rus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Onerous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ONSay 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.
- rusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of onerous
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: ON-uh-rus.
What does onerous mean?
- Imposing or constituting a physical, mental, or figurative load which can be borne only with effort; burdensome.
Where does onerous come from?
Inherited from Middle English onerous, borrowed from Middle French onereux, from Old French onereus, a learned borrowing from Latin onerosus, from onus (“burden”) + -ōsus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying onerous
How do you pronounce onerous?
Say ON-uh-rus. The American pronunciation is /ˈɑnərəs/. In British English it is /ˈɒnərəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in onerous?
Onerous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ON). Broken into parts: ON · uh · rus.
Is onerous 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 /ˈɒnərəs/ (ON-uh-rus).