Learn How to Pronounce harmful

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harmful

Phonetic Transcription:

ˈhɑːmfəl

Examples:

It's toxic, harmful, wasteful and teaches no one about the value of the energy.

Desecreating nature is harmful.

Is the vote harmful to the process

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harmful

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How to perfect your pronunciation of: harmful

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Common mistakes of harmful pronunciation

  1. Misplacing stress: Some learners stress the second syllable, saying "har-MFUL." The correct stress is on the first syllable: /ˈhɑrmfəl/ in US and /ˈhɑːmfəl/ in UK. Tip: Focus on pronouncing "harm" with emphasis.
  2. Omitting the "l": It's common to drop the "l" sound at the end, leading to "harmfu." This makes the pronunciation incomplete. The correct form includes the "l" sound, /ˈhɑrmfəl/ or /ˈhɑːmfəl/. Tip: Practice ending with "ful" clearly.
  3. Mispronouncing the vowel sound: Some may pronounce the "a" in "harmful" as a short "a" sound, like in "cat." The correct sound is a longer "a" as in "car." Tip: Listen to native speakers to catch the difference.
  4. Confusing with "harm": Learners sometimes say "harm" instead of "harmful," missing the "ful" ending. This changes the meaning entirely. The full pronunciation is /ˈhɑrmfəl/ or /ˈhɑːmfəl/. Tip: Always remember to include the "ful" when using the word.
  5. Incorrect vowel length: Some might say "harmful" with a short "u" sound, like "cut." The correct pronunciation has a schwa sound: /ˈhɑrmfəl/ (US) and /ˈhɑːmfəl/ (UK). Tip: Practice the "ful" part with a softer, unstressed sound.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "harmful" correctly?

You pronounce "harmful" as /ˈhɑːrmfəl/ in American English and /ˈhɑːmfəl/ in British English. The primary stress is on the first syllable, "harm," which sounds like "harm" in "harmonica."

What are the syllables in the word "harmful"?

The word "harmful" has two syllables: "harm" and "ful." The first syllable carries the primary stress, making it more prominent when you say the word.

Is there a schwa sound in "harmful"?

Yes, there is a schwa sound in "harmful." The second syllable "ful" is pronounced with a schwa, sounding like "fəl," which is common in unstressed syllables.

Are there any common mistakes when pronouncing "harmful"?

One common mistake is misplacing the stress, saying "HARMful" instead of "harmFUL." Make sure to emphasize the first syllable correctly to avoid confusion.
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