How to pronounce needless
Say it like NEED-lus. Needless 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 needless. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NEED
- lus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Needless 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.
- lusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of needless
American and British speakers say needless in essentially the same way: /ˈnidləs/ in the US and /ˈniːdlɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: NEED-lis.
What does needless mean?
- unnecessary and unwarranted“a strikers' tent camp...was burned with needless loss of life”
Where does needless come from?
From Middle English needlees, nedelees, nedeles, equivalent to need + -less.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with needless
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of needless.
Questions about saying needless
How do you pronounce needless?
Say NEED-lus. The American pronunciation is /ˈnidləs/. In British English it is /ˈniːdlɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in needless?
Needless has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NEED). Broken into parts: NEED · lus.
Do Americans and Brits say needless the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈnidləs/ and the British form is /ˈniːdlɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.