How to pronounce unfriendly
Say it like un-FREND-lee. Unfriendly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FREND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unfriendly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- un
- FREND
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unfriendly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- FRENDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of unfriendly
American and British speakers say unfriendly in essentially the same way: /ənˈfrɛndli/ in the US and /ənˈfrɛndli/ in the UK.
British respelling: un-FREND-lee.
What does unfriendly mean?
- Not friendly; hostile; mean.
- Unfavourable.
- An enemy.
- in an unkind or unfriendly manner; not as a friend
Where does unfriendly come from?
From Middle English unfrendly, unfrendli, unfrendely, from Old English *unfrēondlīċ (suggested by derivative unfrēondlīċe (“in an unfriendly manner; unfriendly”, adverb)), equivalent to un- + friendly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying unfriendly
How do you pronounce unfriendly?
Say un-FREND-lee. The American pronunciation is /ənˈfrɛndli/. In British English it is /ənˈfrɛndli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unfriendly?
Unfriendly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FREND). Broken into parts: un · FREND · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say unfriendly the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ənˈfrɛndli/ and the British form is /ənˈfrɛndli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.