How to pronounce afraid
Say it like uh-FRAYD. Afraid has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FRAYD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce afraid. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- FRAYD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Afraid 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.
- FRAYDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of afraid
American and British speakers say afraid in essentially the same way: /əˈfreɪd/ in the US and /əˈfreɪd/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-FRAYD.
What does afraid mean?
- filled with fear or apprehension“afraid even to turn his head”“suddenly looked afraid”
- filled with regret or concern; used often to soften an unpleasant statement“I'm afraid I won't be able to come”“he was afraid he would have to let her go”
- feeling worry or concern or insecurity“She was afraid that I might be embarrassed”“terribly afraid of offending someone”
Where does afraid come from?
From Middle English affrayed, affraied, past participle of afraien (“to affray”), from Anglo-Norman afrayer (“to terrify, disquiet, disturb”), from Old French effreer, esfreer (“to disturb, remove the peace from”), from es- (“out”) + freer
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with afraid
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of afraid.
Questions about saying afraid
How do you pronounce afraid?
Say uh-FRAYD. The American pronunciation is /əˈfreɪd/. In British English it is /əˈfreɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in afraid?
Afraid has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FRAYD). Broken into parts: uh · FRAYD.
Do Americans and Brits say afraid the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈfreɪd/ and the British form is /əˈfreɪd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.