How to pronounce doubtful
Say it like DOWT-ful. Doubtful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOWT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce doubtful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DOWT
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Doubtful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DOWTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of doubtful
American and British speakers say doubtful in essentially the same way: /ˈdaʊtfəl/ in the US and /ˈdaʊtfəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: DOWT-ful.
What does doubtful mean?
- open to doubt or suspicion“the candidate's doubtful past”“he has a dubious record indeed”
- fraught with uncertainty or doubt“they were doubtful that the cord would hold”“it was doubtful whether she would be admitted”
- unsettled in mind or opinion“drew a few tentative conclusions”
Where does doubtful come from?
From Middle English doutfull, douteful, equivalent to doubt + -ful.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying doubtful
How do you pronounce doubtful?
Say DOWT-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈdaʊtfəl/. In British English it is /ˈdaʊtfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in doubtful?
Doubtful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOWT). Broken into parts: DOWT · ful.
Do Americans and Brits say doubtful the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdaʊtfəl/ and the British form is /ˈdaʊtfəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.