How to Pronounce Portentous

To pronounce "portentous", say PORT-ent-ous — 3 syllables, IPA /pɔː(ɹ)ˈtɛntəs/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

portentous

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/pɔː(ɹ)ˈtɛntəs/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “portentous”

"portentous" has 3 syllables: port-ent-ous. It rhymes with momentous and apprentice, if that helps it stick.

What does portentous mean?

adjective

Of momentous or ominous significance.
Ominously prophetic.

Synonyms

foreshadowing predictive premonitory prognosticatory momentous ominous

Hear “portentous” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with portentous

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

momentous apprentice lentous pentice lentisk adventists devincentis prentice

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "portentous"?▾

"Portentous" has 3 syllables: port · ent · ous.

What is the IPA transcription of "portentous"?▾

The IPA transcription of "portentous" is /pɔː(ɹ)ˈtɛntəs/.

What does "portentous" mean?▾

Portentous: Of momentous or ominous significance.

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