How to pronounce painfully
Say it like PAYN-fuh-lee. Painfully has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAYN).
- PAYN
- fuh
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Painfully pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PAYNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- fuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of painfully
American and British speakers say painfully in essentially the same way: /ˈpeɪnfəli/ in the US and /ˈpeɪnfəli/ in the UK.
British respelling: PAYN-fuh-lee.
What does painfully mean?
- In a painful manner; as if in pain.“I limped painfully down the stairs.”
- Badly; poorly.“That was the most painfully sung rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon” that I’ve ever heard.”
Where does painfully come from?
From Middle English peinfully, paynefully, equivalent to painful + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with painfully
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of painfully.
Questions about saying painfully
How do you pronounce painfully?
Say PAYN-fuh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈpeɪnfəli/. In British English it is /ˈpeɪnfəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in painfully?
Painfully has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAYN). Broken into parts: PAYN · fuh · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say painfully the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpeɪnfəli/ and the British form is /ˈpeɪnfəli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.