How to pronounce tomfoolery
Say it like TOM-foo-ler-ee. Tomfoolery has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tomfoolery. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TOM
- foo
- ler
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tomfoolery pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TOMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- fooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- lerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of tomfoolery
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: tom-FOO-luh-ree.
What does tomfoolery mean?
- Foolish behavior or speech.
- Jewellery.
Where does tomfoolery come from?
From Tom (“a common man”) + foolery.
Questions about saying tomfoolery
How do you pronounce tomfoolery?
Say TOM-foo-ler-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɑmˌfulɚi/. In British English it is /ˌtɒmˈfuːləri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tomfoolery?
Tomfoolery has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOM). Broken into parts: TOM · foo · ler · ee.
Is tomfoolery pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2. The British form is /ˌtɒmˈfuːləri/ (tom-FOO-luh-ree).