How to pronounce powerless
Say it like POW-er-lus. Powerless has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce powerless. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POW
- er
- lus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Powerless pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- lusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of powerless
- American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: POW-lus.
What does powerless mean?
- Lacking sufficient power or strength.
- Lacking legal authority.“The traffic warden was powerless to stop me driving away.”
- Without electricity or electrical power.
Where does powerless come from?
From Middle English pouerles, powerles, equivalent to power + -less.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying powerless
How do you pronounce powerless?
Say POW-er-lus. The American pronunciation is /ˈpaʊɚləs/. In British English it is /ˈpaʊləs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in powerless?
Powerless has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POW). Broken into parts: POW · er · lus.
Is powerless pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2. The British form is /ˈpaʊləs/ (POW-lus).