How to pronounce useful
Say it like YOOS-ful. Useful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YOOS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce useful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YOOS
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Useful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YOOSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of useful
American and British speakers say useful in essentially the same way: /ˈjusfəl/ in the US and /ˈjuːsfəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: YOOS-ful.
What does useful mean?
- being of use or service“the girl felt motherly and useful”“a useful job”
- having a useful function“utilitarian steel tables”
Where does useful come from?
From use + -ful.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying useful
How do you pronounce useful?
Say YOOS-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈjusfəl/. In British English it is /ˈjuːsfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in useful?
Useful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YOOS). Broken into parts: YOOS · ful.
Do Americans and Brits say useful the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈjusfəl/ and the British form is /ˈjuːsfəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.