How to pronounce sorrowful
Say it like SOR-oh-ful. Sorrowful has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sorrowful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOR
- oh
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sorrowful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sorrowful
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SOR-oh-ful.
What does sorrowful mean?
- exhibiting sorrow; dejected; distraught; sad. (of a person)
- Producing sorrow; causing grief.“sorrowful accident”
Where does sorrowful come from?
From Middle English sorweful, from Old English sorhful, sorgful (“full of care; anxious; sorrowful”), from Proto-Germanic *surgafullaz (“full of care; anxious”), equivalent to sorrow + -ful.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying sorrowful
How do you pronounce sorrowful?
Say SOR-oh-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɑroʊfəl/. In British English it is /ˈsɒrəʊfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sorrowful?
Sorrowful has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOR). Broken into parts: SOR · oh · ful.
Is sorrowful pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈsɒrəʊfəl/ (SOR-oh-ful).