How to pronounce gruesome
Say it like GROO-sum. Gruesome has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GROO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce gruesome. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GROO
- sum
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Gruesome pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GROOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- sumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of gruesome
American and British speakers say gruesome in essentially the same way: /ˈɡrusəm/ in the US and /ˈɡruːsəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: GROO-sum.
What does gruesome mean?
- Repellently frightful and shocking; ghastly, horrific.
- Awful, terrible.“The team was so unprepared that the way it played was just gruesome.”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with gruesome
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of gruesome.
Questions about saying gruesome
How do you pronounce gruesome?
Say GROO-sum. The American pronunciation is /ˈɡrusəm/. In British English it is /ˈɡruːsəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in gruesome?
Gruesome has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GROO). Broken into parts: GROO · sum.
Do Americans and Brits say gruesome the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɡrusəm/ and the British form is /ˈɡruːsəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.