How to pronounce shameful
Say it like SHAYM-ful. Shameful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHAYM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce shameful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHAYM
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shameful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHAYMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of shameful
American and British speakers say shameful in essentially the same way: /ˈʃeɪmfəl/ in the US and /ˈʃeɪmfəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: SHAYM-ful.
What does shameful mean?
- (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame“Man...has written one of his blackest records as a destroyer on the oceanic islands”“an ignominious retreat”
- giving offense to moral sensibilities and injurious to reputation“scandalous behavior”“the wicked rascally shameful conduct of the bankrupt”
Where does shameful come from?
From Middle English schameful, schamfull, from Old English *sċeamfull, sċeomfull, equivalent to shame + -ful.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying shameful
How do you pronounce shameful?
Say SHAYM-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃeɪmfəl/. In British English it is /ˈʃeɪmfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shameful?
Shameful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHAYM). Broken into parts: SHAYM · ful.
Do Americans and Brits say shameful the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈʃeɪmfəl/ and the British form is /ˈʃeɪmfəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.