How to pronounce suffering
Say it like SUHF-uh-ring. Suffering has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce suffering. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUHF
- uh
- ring
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Suffering pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SUHFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- ringKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of suffering
American and British speakers say suffering in essentially the same way: /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SUHF-uh-ring.
What does suffering mean?
- a state of acute pain
- misery resulting from affliction
- psychological suffering“the death of his wife caused him great distress”
- troubled by pain or loss“suffering refugees”
- very unhappy; full of misery“he felt depressed and miserable”“a message of hope for suffering humanity”
Where does suffering come from?
By surface analysis, suffer + -ing.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying suffering
How do you pronounce suffering?
Say SUHF-uh-ring. The American pronunciation is /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in suffering?
Suffering has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHF). Broken into parts: SUHF · uh · ring.
Do Americans and Brits say suffering the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.