How to pronounce breathless
Say it like BRETH-lus. Breathless has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRETH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce breathless. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BRETH
- lus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Breathless pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BRETHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- lusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of breathless
American and British speakers say breathless in essentially the same way: /ˈbrɛθləs/ in the US and /ˈbrɛθləs/ in the UK.
British respelling: BRETH-lus.
What does breathless mean?
- Having difficulty breathing; gasping.
- That makes one hold one's breath (with excitement etc.).
- Not breathing; dead or apparently so.
Where does breathless come from?
From breath + -less.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with breathless
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of breathless.
Questions about saying breathless
How do you pronounce breathless?
Say BRETH-lus. The American pronunciation is /ˈbrɛθləs/. In British English it is /ˈbrɛθləs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in breathless?
Breathless has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRETH). Broken into parts: BRETH · lus.
Do Americans and Brits say breathless the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbrɛθləs/ and the British form is /ˈbrɛθləs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.