How to pronounce “oblique”
Oblique is pronounced /əˈbliːk/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the second one — bliːk. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 2 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting bliːk in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern oO — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“oblique” sound by sound
“oblique” is built out of 5 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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əDo almost nothing: leave the tongue in its neutral resting position, mouth slightly open, and make the shortest, weakest possible vowel.
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bPress both lips together and release them while the vocal folds are already vibrating, with no puff of air.
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lTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth and let the voiced air flow around the sides of the tongue.
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iːSpread the lips into a smile, push the front of the tongue high and forward, and hold the sound tense and long.
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kRaise the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate, seal the air, then release it with a puff.
Silent letters in “oblique”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- uThe letter “u”Silent “u” after “g”/“q” — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “oblique”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Questions people ask about “oblique”
- How do you pronounce “oblique”?
- “oblique” is pronounced /əˈbliːk/, with the stress on the second syllable (bliːk). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “oblique”?
- “oblique” has 2 syllables: ə · bliːk. The stress pattern is oO.
- Does “oblique” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent “u” after “g”/“q”.
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