How to pronounce strenuous
Say it like STREN-yoo-us. Strenuous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STREN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce strenuous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STREN
- yoo
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Strenuous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STRENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of strenuous
American and British speakers say strenuous in essentially the same way: /ˈstrɛnjuəs/ in the US and /ˈstrɛnjuːəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: STREN-yoo-us.
What does strenuous mean?
- Having great vigor or energy; forceful.“strenuous exercise”
- Requiring great exertion; very laborious.
Where does strenuous come from?
From Latin strenuus (“quick”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with strenuous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of strenuous.
Questions about saying strenuous
How do you pronounce strenuous?
Say STREN-yoo-us. The American pronunciation is /ˈstrɛnjuəs/. In British English it is /ˈstrɛnjuːəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in strenuous?
Strenuous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STREN). Broken into parts: STREN · yoo · us.
Do Americans and Brits say strenuous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈstrɛnjuəs/ and the British form is /ˈstrɛnjuːəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.