How to pronounce badness
Say it like BAD-nus. Badness has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce badness. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAD
- nus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Badness pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BADSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- nusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of badness
American and British speakers say badness in essentially the same way: /ˈbædnəs/ in the US and /ˈbædnəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAD-nus.
What does badness mean?
- The quality or degree of being bad.
Where does badness come from?
From Middle English baddenes, badnes, badnesse; equivalent to bad + -ness.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with badness
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of badness.
Questions about saying badness
How do you pronounce badness?
Say BAD-nus. The American pronunciation is /ˈbædnəs/. In British English it is /ˈbædnəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in badness?
Badness has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAD). Broken into parts: BAD · nus.
Do Americans and Brits say badness the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbædnəs/ and the British form is /ˈbædnəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.