How to pronounce painless
Say it like PAYN-lus. Painless has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAYN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce painless. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAYN
- lus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Painless 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.
- lusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of painless
American and British speakers say painless in essentially the same way: /ˈpeɪnləs/ in the US and /ˈpeɪnləs/ in the UK.
British respelling: PAYN-lus.
What does painless mean?
- Free from pain; without pain or trouble.
- Not difficult; easy.
Where does painless come from?
From Middle English paynles, peynlees, equivalent to pain + -less.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with painless
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of painless.
Questions about saying painless
How do you pronounce painless?
Say PAYN-lus. The American pronunciation is /ˈpeɪnləs/. In British English it is /ˈpeɪnləs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in painless?
Painless has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAYN). Broken into parts: PAYN · lus.
Do Americans and Brits say painless the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpeɪnləs/ and the British form is /ˈpeɪnləs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.