How to pronounce dreadful
Say it like DRED-ful. Dreadful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DRED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dreadful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DRED
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dreadful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DREDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of dreadful
American and British speakers say dreadful in essentially the same way: /ˈdrɛdfəl/ in the US and /ˈdrɛdfəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: DRED-ful.
What does dreadful mean?
- causing fear or dread or terror“the awful war”“an awful risk”
- exceptionally bad or displeasing“atrocious taste”“abominable workmanship”
- extremely disagreeable and unpleasant“don't go out, the weather is dreadful”
Where does dreadful come from?
From Middle English dredful, dredfull, dredeful (also dreful).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying dreadful
How do you pronounce dreadful?
Say DRED-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈdrɛdfəl/. In British English it is /ˈdrɛdfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dreadful?
Dreadful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DRED). Broken into parts: DRED · ful.
Do Americans and Brits say dreadful the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdrɛdfəl/ and the British form is /ˈdrɛdfəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.