How to pronounce ridiculous
Say it like rih-DIK-yuh-lus. Ridiculous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DIK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ridiculous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- DIK
- yuh
- lus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ridiculous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- rihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- DIKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- yuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- lusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of ridiculous
American and British speakers say ridiculous in essentially the same way: /rɪˈdɪkjələs/ in the US and /rɪˈdɪkjʊləs/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-DIK-yuh-lus.
What does ridiculous mean?
- inspiring scornful pity“how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years”
- so unreasonable as to invite derision“the absurd excuse that the dog ate his homework”“that's a cockeyed idea”
- broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce“the wild farcical exuberance of a clown”“ludicrous green hair”
Where does ridiculous come from?
Borrowed from Latin rīdiculus (“laughable, ridiculous”); Equivalent to ridicule + -ous.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with ridiculous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ridiculous.
Questions about saying ridiculous
How do you pronounce ridiculous?
Say rih-DIK-yuh-lus. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈdɪkjələs/. In British English it is /rɪˈdɪkjʊləs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ridiculous?
Ridiculous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DIK). Broken into parts: rih · DIK · yuh · lus.
Do Americans and Brits say ridiculous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈdɪkjələs/ and the British form is /rɪˈdɪkjʊləs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.