How to pronounce thoughtful
Say it like THAWT-ful. Thoughtful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THAWT).
- THAWT
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Thoughtful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THAWTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of thoughtful
American and British speakers say thoughtful in essentially the same way: /ˈθɔtfəl/ in the US and /ˈθɔːtfəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: THAWT-ful.
What does thoughtful mean?
- Demonstrating thought or careful consideration.“Most thoughtful people eventually solve the puzzle.”
- Demonstrating kindness or consideration for others.“Preparing dinner is a thoughtful gesture for a new mother.”
Where does thoughtful come from?
From Middle English thoȝtful, thohtful, equivalent to thought + -ful.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- careful
- contemplative
- pensive
- thoughty
- considerate
- attentive
- caring
- cogitative
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying thoughtful
How do you pronounce thoughtful?
Say THAWT-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈθɔtfəl/. In British English it is /ˈθɔːtfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thoughtful?
Thoughtful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THAWT). Broken into parts: THAWT · ful.
Do Americans and Brits say thoughtful the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈθɔtfəl/ and the British form is /ˈθɔːtfəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.