How to pronounce hurtful
Say it like HURT-ful. Hurtful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HURT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hurtful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HURT
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hurtful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HURTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of hurtful
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HURT-ful.
What does hurtful mean?
- Tending to impair or damage; injurious; occasioning loss or injury.
- Tending to hurt someone's feelings; insulting; lacerating.
Where does hurtful come from?
From hurt + -ful.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying hurtful
How do you pronounce hurtful?
Say HURT-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɝtfəl/. In British English it is /ˈhɜːtfʊl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hurtful?
Hurtful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HURT). Broken into parts: HURT · ful.
Is hurtful 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 /ˈhɜːtfʊl/ (HURT-ful).