How to pronounce fretful
Say it like FRET-ful. Fretful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FRET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fretful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FRET
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fretful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FRETSay 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 fretful
American and British speakers say fretful in essentially the same way: /ˈfrɛtfəl/ in the US and /ˈfrɛtfəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: FRET-ful.
What does fretful mean?
- Unable to relax: fidgety; restless; worried; anxious.
- Irritable; bad-tempered; grumpy; peevish.
Where does fretful come from?
From fret + -ful.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with fretful
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of fretful.
Questions about saying fretful
How do you pronounce fretful?
Say FRET-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈfrɛtfəl/. In British English it is /ˈfrɛtfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fretful?
Fretful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FRET). Broken into parts: FRET · ful.
Do Americans and Brits say fretful the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfrɛtfəl/ and the British form is /ˈfrɛtfəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.