How to pronounce good
Say it like GUUD. Good is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce good. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GUUD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Good pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GUUDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
American vs British pronunciation of good
American and British speakers say good in essentially the same way: /ɡʊd/ in the US and /ɡʊd/ in the UK.
British respelling: GUUD.
What does good mean?
- having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified“good news from the hospital”“a good report card”
- having the normally expected amount“gives full measure”“gives good measure”
- morally admirable
- benefit“for your own good”“what's the good of worrying?”
- moral excellence or admirableness“there is much good to be found in people”
- that which is pleasing or valuable or useful“weigh the good against the bad”“among the highest goods of all are happiness and self-realization”
- (often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (good is a nonstandard dialectal variant for well)“the children behaved well”“a task well done”
- completely and absolutely (good is sometimes used informally for thoroughly)“he was soundly defeated”“we beat him good”
Where does good come from?
Cognate with Scots gude, guid (“good”), Yola gayde, gooude, gude (“good”), North Frisian goud, gud, guid, gur, gödj, gööd (“good”), Saterland Frisian goud (“good”), West Frisian goed (“good”), Alemannic German guet (“good”), Bavarian guad (
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with good
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of good.
Questions about saying good
How do you pronounce good?
Say GUUD. The American pronunciation is /ɡʊd/. In British English it is /ɡʊd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in good?
Good is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: GUUD.
Do Americans and Brits say good the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɡʊd/ and the British form is /ɡʊd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.