How to pronounce wasteful
Say it like WAYST-ful. Wasteful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAYST).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wasteful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAYST
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wasteful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WAYSTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of wasteful
American and British speakers say wasteful in essentially the same way: /ˈweɪstfəl/ in the US and /ˈweɪstfəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: WAYST-ful.
What does wasteful mean?
- Inclined to waste or squander money or resources.
Where does wasteful come from?
From Middle English wastful; equivalent to waste + -ful.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with wasteful
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wasteful.
Questions about saying wasteful
How do you pronounce wasteful?
Say WAYST-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈweɪstfəl/. In British English it is /ˈweɪstfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wasteful?
Wasteful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAYST). Broken into parts: WAYST · ful.
Do Americans and Brits say wasteful the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈweɪstfəl/ and the British form is /ˈweɪstfəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.