How to pronounce worthwhile
Say it like wur-THWYLE. Worthwhile has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (THWYLE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce worthwhile. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- wur
- THWYLE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Worthwhile pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- wurGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- THWYLESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of worthwhile
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: wur-THWYLE.
What does worthwhile mean?
- sufficiently valuable to justify the investment of time or interest“a worthwhile book”
Where does worthwhile come from?
From worth (adjective) + while (noun).
Words that rhyme with worthwhile
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of worthwhile.
Questions about saying worthwhile
How do you pronounce worthwhile?
Say wur-THWYLE. The American pronunciation is /ˌwɝˈθwaɪl/. In British English it is /ˌwɜːˈθwaɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in worthwhile?
Worthwhile has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (THWYLE). Broken into parts: wur · THWYLE.
Is worthwhile 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 /ˌwɜːˈθwaɪl/ (wur-THWYLE).