How to pronounce jealous
Say it like JEL-us. Jealous has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce jealous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JEL
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Jealous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of jealous
American and British speakers say jealous in essentially the same way: /ˈdʒɛləs/ in the US and /ˈdʒɛləs/ in the UK.
British respelling: JEL-us.
What does jealous mean?
- showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages“he was never covetous before he met her”“jealous of his success and covetous of his possessions”
- suspicious or unduly suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival“a jealous lover”
Where does jealous come from?
First attested in 1382.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with jealous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of jealous.
Questions about saying jealous
How do you pronounce jealous?
Say JEL-us. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʒɛləs/. In British English it is /ˈdʒɛləs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in jealous?
Jealous has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JEL). Broken into parts: JEL · us.
Do Americans and Brits say jealous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdʒɛləs/ and the British form is /ˈdʒɛləs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.