How to pronounce scandalous
Say it like SKAN-duh-lus. Scandalous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce scandalous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKAN
- duh
- lus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Scandalous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- duhKeep 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 scandalous
American and British speakers say scandalous in essentially the same way: /ˈskændələs/ in the US and /ˈskændələs/ in the UK.
British respelling: SKAN-duh-lus.
What does scandalous mean?
- Of a thing: causing or having the nature of a scandal; regarded as so immoral or wrong as to be extremely disgraceful; despicable, shameful.
- Of a person: delighted by scandal.
- Of speech or writing: defamatory, malicious.
Where does scandalous come from?
From Late Middle English scandalouse (“disgraceful, shameful”), borrowed from Old French scandaleux (“scandalous”) (modern French scandaleux), from Medieval Latin scandalōsus, from Ecclesiastical Latin scandalum (“scandal”) + Latin -ōsus (s
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying scandalous
How do you pronounce scandalous?
Say SKAN-duh-lus. The American pronunciation is /ˈskændələs/. In British English it is /ˈskændələs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in scandalous?
Scandalous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKAN). Broken into parts: SKAN · duh · lus.
Do Americans and Brits say scandalous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈskændələs/ and the British form is /ˈskændələs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.