How to pronounce pitifully
Say it like PIT-ih-fuh-lee. Pitifully has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pitifully. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PIT
- ih
- fuh
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pitifully pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- 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 pitifully
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: PIT-ih-fuh-lee.
What does pitifully mean?
- In a pitiful manner.
Where does pitifully come from?
From Middle English petefully, petifullie, pyttyfully, pytyffully; equivalent to pitiful + -ly.
Questions about saying pitifully
How do you pronounce pitifully?
Say PIT-ih-fuh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɪtɪfəli/. In British English it is /ˈpɪtɪfəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pitifully?
Pitifully has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIT). Broken into parts: PIT · ih · fuh · lee.
Is pitifully pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈpɪtɪfəli/ (PIT-ih-fuh-lee).