How to pronounce wilfully
Say it like WIL-fuh-lee. Wilfully has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wilfully. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WIL
- fuh
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wilfully pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- fuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of wilfully
American and British speakers say wilfully in essentially the same way: /ˈwɪlfəli/ in the US and /ˈwɪlfəli/ in the UK.
British respelling: WIL-fuh-lee.
What does wilfully mean?
- Deliberately, on purpose.
Where does wilfully come from?
From Old English wilfullīċe, corresponding to wilful + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with wilfully
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wilfully.
Words that sound like wilfully
Questions about saying wilfully
How do you pronounce wilfully?
Say WIL-fuh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɪlfəli/. In British English it is /ˈwɪlfəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wilfully?
Wilfully has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIL). Broken into parts: WIL · fuh · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say wilfully the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈwɪlfəli/ and the British form is /ˈwɪlfəli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as wilfully?
Wilfully sounds the same as willfully in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.