How to pronounce unusual
Say it like uh-NYOO-zhoo-ul. Unusual has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NYOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unusual. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- NYOO
- zhoo
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unusual pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NYOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- zhooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of unusual
American and British speakers say unusual in essentially the same way: /əˈnjuˌʒuəl/ in the US and /ʌˈnjuːʒuəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-NYOO-zhoo-ul.
What does unusual mean?
- not usual or common or ordinary“a scene of unusual beauty”“a man of unusual ability”
- being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird“a strange exaltation that was indefinable”“a strange fantastical mind”
- not commonly encountered“two-career families are no longer unusual”
Where does unusual come from?
From un- + usual.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying unusual
How do you pronounce unusual?
Say uh-NYOO-zhoo-ul. The American pronunciation is /əˈnjuˌʒuəl/. In British English it is /ʌˈnjuːʒuəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unusual?
Unusual has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NYOO). Broken into parts: uh · NYOO · zhoo · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say unusual the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈnjuˌʒuəl/ and the British form is /ʌˈnjuːʒuəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.