How to pronounce skillful
Say it like SKIL-ful. Skillful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce skillful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKIL
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Skillful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of skillful
American and British speakers say skillful in essentially the same way: /ˈskɪlfəl/ in the US and /ˈskɪlfəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: SKIL-ful.
What does skillful mean?
- Possessing skill; skilled.“she's a skillful mechanical”
- Requiring skill.“a skillful task”
Where does skillful come from?
From Middle English skilful, skylfull, scelvol, equivalent to skill + -ful.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with skillful
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of skillful.
Words that sound like skillful
Questions about saying skillful
How do you pronounce skillful?
Say SKIL-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈskɪlfəl/. In British English it is /ˈskɪlfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in skillful?
Skillful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKIL). Broken into parts: SKIL · ful.
Do Americans and Brits say skillful the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈskɪlfəl/ and the British form is /ˈskɪlfəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as skillful?
Skillful sounds the same as skilful in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.