How to pronounce tearful
Say it like TEER-ful. Tearful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tearful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEER
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tearful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
American vs British pronunciation of tearful
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: TEER-ful.
What does tearful mean?
- Accompanied by tears; crying, or about to cry.“Aaron got a little tearful until Laura came to reassure him.”
- Sorrowful.
Where does tearful come from?
From tear + -ful.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying tearful
How do you pronounce tearful?
Say TEER-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɪrfʊl/. In British English it is /ˈtɪəfʊl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tearful?
Tearful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEER). Broken into parts: TEER · ful.
Is tearful pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈtɪəfʊl/ (TEER-ful).