Quote:
Originally Posted by j4mes_bond25  Less is pronounced as "les" but when using it as a "suffix" i.e. at the end of the word (such as meaning, price, power, doubt, etc.) then it is pronounced WITHOUT a stress & hence has "schwa" vowel in it i.e. "@".
While using in its normal context i.e. WITHOUT particularly emphasise on the "less" bit, it'd ALMOST ALWAYS have "@" sound in it:
@ sound is called "schwa", which is EXACTLY SAME as it occurs in:
>> @.baUt" (as in "about"), "@.mend (as in "amend") or "and" (when unstressed).
Hence some of the examples would be (less):
>> meaningless = mI.nIN.l@s
>> priceless = praIs.l@s
>> powerless = paU@.l@s
>> doubtless = daUt.l@s
The same goes for "ness" at the end such as (ness):
>> coolness = cu:l.n@s
>> kindness = kaInd.n@s
>> darkness = dA:k.n@s
Again, the similar rule/logic can be used for "ful" at the end such as (ful):
>> helpful = help.f@l
>> hopeful = EMAIL REMOVED - Send PM to This User Instead@l
>> useful = u:z.f@l
ONLY exception I can think of here is "armful" which is NOT pronounced as "A:m.f@l" but it's "A:m.fUl" instead.
Another example of such suffix would be "ment", such as:
>> movement = mu:v.m@nt
>> government = gVv(@)n.m@nt
>> amazement = ameIz.m@nt
Hope it was more than what you'd asked for. Any further question/queries, let me know. |
Thank you for mentioning the pronounciation... I had never noticed that -ment is pronounced with e schwa before...
Anyway, thanks a lot for the word "armful" - I thought it was read with the e schwa as well!
useful =
ju:z.f@l