How to pronounce afoul
Say it like uh-FOWL. Afoul has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FOWL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce afoul. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- FOWL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Afoul pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- FOWLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of afoul
American and British speakers say afoul in essentially the same way: /əˈfaʊl/ in the US and /əˈfaʊl/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-FOWL.
What does afoul mean?
- In a state of entanglement or conflict (with).“He had a knack for running afoul of the law.”
Where does afoul come from?
From a- + foul.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- foul
- fouled
Words that rhyme with afoul
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of afoul.
Questions about saying afoul
How do you pronounce afoul?
Say uh-FOWL. The American pronunciation is /əˈfaʊl/. In British English it is /əˈfaʊl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in afoul?
Afoul has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FOWL). Broken into parts: uh · FOWL.
Do Americans and Brits say afoul the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈfaʊl/ and the British form is /əˈfaʊl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.