How to pronounce threadbare
Say it like THRED-bair. Threadbare has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THRED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce threadbare. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- THRED
- bair
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Threadbare pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THREDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- bairGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of threadbare
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: THRED-bair.
What does threadbare mean?
- Of cloth, clothing, furnishings, etc.: frayed and worn to an extent that the nap is damaged and the warp and weft threads show; shabby, worn-out.
- In poor condition; damaged, shabby; also, poorly equipped or provided for, inadequate, meager, scanty.
- Of an argument, excuse, etc.: used so often that it is no longer effective or interesting; banal, clichéd, trite.
Where does threadbare come from?
From Middle English thred-bar, thred-bare (“of cloth, clothing, etc.: worn to such an extent that the warp and weft threads show, shabby, worn-out; (figurative) inadequate, poor”) [and other forms], from thred (“piece of textile twine”) (fr
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying threadbare
How do you pronounce threadbare?
Say THRED-bair. The American pronunciation is /ˈθrɛdˌbɛr/. In British English it is /ˈθrɛdbɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in threadbare?
Threadbare has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THRED). Broken into parts: THRED · bair.
Is threadbare 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 /ˈθrɛdbɛə/ (THRED-bair).