How to pronounce harmful
Say it like HARM-ful. Harmful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HARM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce harmful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HARM
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Harmful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HARMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of harmful
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HAHM-ful.
What does harmful mean?
- causing or capable of causing harm“too much sun is harmful to the skin”“harmful effects of smoking”
Where does harmful come from?
Cognate with German harmvoll, Danish harmfuld, Swedish harmfull.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying harmful
How do you pronounce harmful?
Say HARM-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɑrmfəl/. In British English it is /ˈhɑːmfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in harmful?
Harmful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HARM). Broken into parts: HARM · ful.
Is harmful pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈhɑːmfəl/ (HAHM-ful).