How to Pronounce “eloquent”

British (UK)

/ˈɛl.əˌkwənt/

adjective — Fluently persuasive and articulate.

Example: an eloquent writer.

Where the stress falls. “eloquent” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈɛl.əˌkwənt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈɛl.əˌkwənt/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "eloquent" mean?

eloquent (adjective): Fluently persuasive and articulate. For example — an eloquent writer.

Which syllable is stressed in "eloquent"?

“eloquent” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈɛl.əˌkwənt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.