How to pronounce worthless
Say it like WURTH-lus. Worthless has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WURTH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce worthless. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WURTH
- lus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Worthless pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WURTHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- lusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of worthless
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WURTH-lis.
What does worthless mean?
- lacking in usefulness or value“a worthless idler”
- morally reprehensible“would do something as despicable as murder”“ugly crimes”
Where does worthless come from?
From Middle English *worthles, from Old English weorþlēas (“worthless”), equivalent to worth + -less.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying worthless
How do you pronounce worthless?
Say WURTH-lus. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɝθləs/. In British English it is /ˈwɜːθlɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in worthless?
Worthless has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WURTH). Broken into parts: WURTH · lus.
Is worthless pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈwɜːθlɪs/ (WURTH-lis).