How to pronounce vicious
Say it like VISH-us. Vicious has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VISH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce vicious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VISH
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Vicious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- VISHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of vicious
American and British speakers say vicious in essentially the same way: /ˈvɪʃəs/ in the US and /ˈvɪʃəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: VISH-us.
What does vicious mean?
- (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering“a barbarous crime”“brutal beatings”
- having the nature of vice
- bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure“a criminal waste of talent”“a deplorable act of violence”
Where does vicious come from?
From Middle English vicious, from Anglo-Norman vicious, (modern French vicieux), from Latin vitiōsus, from vitium (“fault, vice”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with vicious
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of vicious.
- delicious
- suspicious
- ambitious
- malicious
- fictitious
- nutritious
- superstitious
- auspicious
- pernicious
- capricious
Questions about saying vicious
How do you pronounce vicious?
Say VISH-us. The American pronunciation is /ˈvɪʃəs/. In British English it is /ˈvɪʃəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in vicious?
Vicious has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VISH). Broken into parts: VISH · us.
Do Americans and Brits say vicious the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈvɪʃəs/ and the British form is /ˈvɪʃəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.