How to Pronounce “rigorous”

American (US)

/ˈɹɪɡəɹəs/

British (UK)

/ˈɹɪɡəɹəs/

adjective — Showing, causing, or favoring rigour/rigor; scrupulously accurate or strict; thorough.

Example: a rigorous officer of justice.

Where the stress falls. “rigorous” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈɹɪɡəɹəs/ 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. /ˈɹɪɡəɹəs/ 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 "rigorous" mean?

rigorous (adjective): Showing, causing, or favoring rigour/rigor; scrupulously accurate or strict; thorough. For example — a rigorous officer of justice.

How do you pronounce "rigorous" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "rigorous", /ˈɹɪɡəɹəs/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "rigorous"?

/ˈɹɪɡəɹəs/ in American English, /ˈɹɪɡəɹəs/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "rigorous"?

“rigorous” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈɹɪɡəɹəs/ 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.