How to pronounce parlous
Say it like PAR-lus. Parlous has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce parlous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAR
- lus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Parlous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- lusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of parlous
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PAH-lus.
What does parlous mean?
- Attended with peril; dangerous, risky.“The situation became parlous when the weather made resupply impossible.”
- Appalling, dire, terrible.“in a parlous state”
Where does parlous come from?
From Middle English parles, parlous, perlous, [and other forms], a contraction of perilous (“dangerous; dreadful, terrible; morally corrupt, sinful, wicked; inauspicious, unlucky”) (and thus a doublet of perilous), from Old French perilleus
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying parlous
How do you pronounce parlous?
Say PAR-lus. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɑrləs/. In British English it is /ˈpɑːləs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in parlous?
Parlous has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAR). Broken into parts: PAR · lus.
Is parlous pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈpɑːləs/ (PAH-lus).