How to pronounce goodness
Say it like GUUD-nus. Goodness has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GUUD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce goodness. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GUUD
- nus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Goodness 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.
- nusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of goodness
American and British speakers say goodness in essentially the same way: /ˈɡʊdnəs/ in the US and /ˈɡʊdnɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: GUUD-nis.
What does goodness mean?
- 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”
- moral excellence or admirableness“there is much good to be found in people”
Where does goodness come from?
From Middle English goodnesse, godnesse, from Old English gōdnes (“goodness; virtue; kindness”), from Proto-West Germanic *gōdnassī (“goodness”), equivalent to good + -ness.
Questions about saying goodness
How do you pronounce goodness?
Say GUUD-nus. The American pronunciation is /ˈɡʊdnəs/. In British English it is /ˈɡʊdnɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in goodness?
Goodness has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GUUD). Broken into parts: GUUD · nus.
Do Americans and Brits say goodness the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɡʊdnəs/ and the British form is /ˈɡʊdnɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.