How to pronounce ruefully
Say it like ROO-fuh-lee. Ruefully has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ruefully. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROO
- fuh
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ruefully pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ROOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- 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 ruefully
American and British speakers say ruefully in essentially the same way: /ˈrufəli/ in the US and /ˈruːfəli/ in the UK.
British respelling: ROO-fuh-lee.
What does ruefully mean?
- In a rueful manner; causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow.“He smiled ruefully at me.”
Where does ruefully come from?
From rueful + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying ruefully
How do you pronounce ruefully?
Say ROO-fuh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈrufəli/. In British English it is /ˈruːfəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ruefully?
Ruefully has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROO). Broken into parts: ROO · fuh · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say ruefully the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrufəli/ and the British form is /ˈruːfəli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.