How to pronounce wistfully
Say it like WIST-fuh-lee. Wistfully has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIST).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wistfully. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WIST
- fuh
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wistfully pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WISTSay 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 wistfully
American and British speakers say wistfully in essentially the same way: /ˈwɪstfəli/ in the US and /ˈwɪstfəli/ in the UK.
British respelling: WIST-fuh-lee.
What does wistfully mean?
- In a wistful manner.
Where does wistfully come from?
From wistful + -ly.
Questions about saying wistfully
How do you pronounce wistfully?
Say WIST-fuh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɪstfəli/. In British English it is /ˈwɪstfəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wistfully?
Wistfully has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIST). Broken into parts: WIST · fuh · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say wistfully the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈwɪstfəli/ and the British form is /ˈwɪstfəli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.