How to pronounce foolishness
Say it like FOO-lish-nus. Foolishness has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce foolishness. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FOO
- lish
- nus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Foolishness pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- lishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- nusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of foolishness
American and British speakers say foolishness in essentially the same way: /ˈfulɪʃnəs/ in the US and /ˈfuːlɪʃnəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: FOO-lish-nus.
What does foolishness mean?
- The state of being foolish.
- A thing or event that is foolish, or an absurdity.
Where does foolishness come from?
From Middle English folishnesse, follissnesse, equivalent to foolish + -ness.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying foolishness
How do you pronounce foolishness?
Say FOO-lish-nus. The American pronunciation is /ˈfulɪʃnəs/. In British English it is /ˈfuːlɪʃnəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in foolishness?
Foolishness has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOO). Broken into parts: FOO · lish · nus.
Do Americans and Brits say foolishness the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfulɪʃnəs/ and the British form is /ˈfuːlɪʃnəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.