How to pronounce confused
Say it like kunf-YOOZD. Confused has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (YOOZD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce confused. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kunf
- YOOZD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Confused pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kunfKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- YOOZDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of confused
American and British speakers say confused in essentially the same way: /kənfˈjuzd/ in the US and /kənfˈjuːzd/ in the UK.
British respelling: kunf-YOOZD.
What does confused mean?
- perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment“obviously bemused by his questions”“bewildered and confused”
- lacking orderly continuity“a confused set of instructions”“a confused dream about the end of the world”
- having lost your bearings; confused as to time or place or personal identity“I frequently find myself disoriented when I come up out of the subway”“the anesthetic left her completely disoriented”
Where does confused come from?
Originally from Middle English confused (“frustrated, ruined”), from Anglo-Norman confus + Middle English -ed (past participial suffix), from Latin cōnfūsus, past participle of cōnfundō; now equivalent to confuse (a back-formation) + -ed.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with confused
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of confused.
Questions about saying confused
How do you pronounce confused?
Say kunf-YOOZD. The American pronunciation is /kənfˈjuzd/. In British English it is /kənfˈjuːzd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in confused?
Confused has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (YOOZD). Broken into parts: kunf · YOOZD.
Do Americans and Brits say confused the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kənfˈjuzd/ and the British form is /kənfˈjuːzd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.