How to Pronounce “fractious”
Free audio in American, British, and Australian English.
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- American (US)
- /ˈfɹæk.ʃəs/
What “fractious” means
adjective — Given to troublemaking.
Pronunciation Notes
Where the stress falls. “fractious” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈfɹæk.ʃəs/ 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. /ˈfɹæk.ʃəs/ 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "fractious" mean?
fractious (adjective): Given to troublemaking.
What is the IPA transcription of "fractious"?
/ˈfɹæk.ʃəs/ in American English.
Which syllable is stressed in "fractious"?
“fractious” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈfɹæk.ʃəs/ 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.
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