How to Pronounce Awful

To pronounce "awful", say AWF-ul — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈɔːfəl/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

awful

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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2

Syllables

5

Letters

/ˈɔːfəl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “awful”

"awful" has 2 syllables: awf-ul. It rhymes with offal and unlawful, if that helps it stick.

What does awful mean?

adjective

  1. Very bad.

    “My socks smell awful.”

  2. Exceedingly great; usually applied intensively.

    “I have learnt an awful amount today.”

adverb

  1. Awfully; dreadfully; terribly.
  2. Very, extremely.

    “He was blubbering away something awful.”

Hear “awful” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with awful

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

offalunlawfullawfulfalafelhofulcofflewofulcauflecoffel

Related words

horrendousatrociousterriblydireabominabledreadfulhorrificterrible

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "awful"?▾

"Awful" has 2 syllables: awf · ul.

What is the IPA transcription of "awful"?▾

The IPA transcription of "awful" is /ˈɔːfəl/.

What does "awful" mean?▾

Awful: Very bad.

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