How to pronounce wishful
Say it like WISH-ful. Wishful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WISH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wishful. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WISH
- ful
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wishful pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WISHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- fulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of wishful
American and British speakers say wishful in essentially the same way: /ˈwɪʃfəl/ in the US and /ˈwɪʃfəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: WISH-ful.
What does wishful mean?
- Expressing a wish or longing for something.
- Aspiring, or seeking advancement.
Where does wishful come from?
From wish + -ful.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying wishful
How do you pronounce wishful?
Say WISH-ful. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɪʃfəl/. In British English it is /ˈwɪʃfəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wishful?
Wishful has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WISH). Broken into parts: WISH · ful.
Do Americans and Brits say wishful the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈwɪʃfəl/ and the British form is /ˈwɪʃfəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.