How to pronounce needful
Say it like NEED-ful. Needful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NEED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce needful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NEED
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Needful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NEEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of needful
American and British speakers say needful in essentially the same way: /ˈnidfəl/ in the US and /ˈniːdfəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: NEED-ful.
What does needful mean?
- Needed; necessary; mandatory; requisite; indispensable.
- Anything necessary or requisite.
- Ready money; wherewithal.
Where does needful come from?
From Middle English needeful, nedeful, from Old English nēodful (“necessary; earnest; zealous”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying needful
How do you pronounce needful?
Say NEED-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈnidfəl/. In British English it is /ˈniːdfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in needful?
Needful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NEED). Broken into parts: NEED · ful.
Do Americans and Brits say needful the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈnidfəl/ and the British form is /ˈniːdfəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.