How to pronounce dreadfully
Say it like DRED-fuh-lee. Dreadfully has three 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 dreadfully. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DRED
- fuh
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dreadfully 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.
- fuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of dreadfully
American and British speakers say dreadfully in essentially the same way: /ˈdrɛdfəli/ in the US and /ˈdrɛdfəli/ in the UK.
British respelling: DRED-fuh-lee.
What does dreadfully mean?
- In a dreadful manner; terribly.“You behaved dreadfully yesterday night”
- Exceptionally, eminently, very much.“That restaurant seems dreadfully expensive.”
Where does dreadfully come from?
Inherited from Middle English dredfully, dradefullich, dredefullich; equivalent to dreadful + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying dreadfully
How do you pronounce dreadfully?
Say DRED-fuh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈdrɛdfəli/. In British English it is /ˈdrɛdfəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dreadfully?
Dreadfully has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DRED). Broken into parts: DRED · fuh · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say dreadfully the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdrɛdfəli/ and the British form is /ˈdrɛdfəli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.