How to Pronounce Nefarious

"Nefarious" is not spelled the way it sounds. Its pronunciation is /nəˈfɛɹiəs/ in IPA and it has 4 syllables. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents — the audio is the reliable guide for a word like this.

nefarious

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4

Syllables

9

Letters

/nəˈfɛɹiəs/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/nəfˈeəɹɪəs/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “nefarious

"nefarious" has 4 syllables: nefarious. It rhymes with precarious and gregarious, if that helps it stick.

What does nefarious mean?

adjective

  1. Sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics.

    Aliens have a nefarious connotation in many science fiction books.

Synonyms

evilgood-for-nothinginiquitoussinisterunderhandedvile

Words that rhyme with nefarious

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

precariousgregariousvariousvicariouscariousscariousterreoushilariousferreousaquariusmarius

Related words

villainouswickedwickednessevilmalignantinfamousmalicioussinister

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Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "nefarious"?

"Nefarious" is not spelled the way it sounds. Its pronunciation is /nəˈfɛɹiəs/ in IPA and it has 4 syllables. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents — the audio is the reliable guide for a word like this.

How many syllables are in "nefarious"?

"Nefarious" has 4 syllables.

What is the IPA transcription of "nefarious"?

The IPA transcription of "nefarious" is /nəˈfɛɹiəs/.

What does "nefarious" mean?

Nefarious: Sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics.

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