How to Pronounce “ingenuous”
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- American (US)
- /ɪnˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.əs/
What “ingenuous” means
adjective — Naive and trusting.
Pronunciation Notes
Where the stress falls. “ingenuous” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ɪnˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.əs/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.
An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ɪnˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.əs/ 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 "ingenuous" mean?
ingenuous (adjective): Naive and trusting.
What is the IPA transcription of "ingenuous"?
/ɪnˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.əs/ in American English.
Which syllable is stressed in "ingenuous"?
“ingenuous” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ɪnˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.əs/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.
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