How to pronounce somniferous
Say it like som-NIF-uh-rus. Somniferous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NIF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce somniferous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- som
- NIF
- uh
- rus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Somniferous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- somKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- NIFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- 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 somniferous
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: som-NIF-uh-rus.
What does somniferous mean?
- causing or inducing sleep, normally with harmful overtones.
Where does somniferous come from?
From Latin somnifer + -ous, from somnus (“sleep”) + ferre (“to bring”).
Words that rhyme with somniferous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of somniferous.
Questions about saying somniferous
How do you pronounce somniferous?
Say som-NIF-uh-rus. The American pronunciation is /sɑmˈnɪfərəs/. In British English it is /sɒmˈnɪfərəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in somniferous?
Somniferous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NIF). Broken into parts: som · NIF · uh · rus.
Is somniferous 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 /sɒmˈnɪfərəs/ (som-NIF-uh-rus).