How to Pronounce “comfortable”

American (US)

/ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/

British (UK)

/ˈkʌmfətəbəl/

Australian (AU)

/ˈkɐmf.tə.bəl/

adjective — Providing physical ease, or free from stress and worry.

Example: The chair is old but extremely comfortable.

Synonyms: cosy, relaxed

Antonyms: uncomfortable

The final e is silent. The transcription /ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “comfortable” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “comfortable” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "comfortable" mean?

comfortable (adjective): Providing physical ease, or free from stress and worry. For example — The chair is old but extremely comfortable.

How do you pronounce "comfortable" in American vs British English?

American English: /ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/. British English: /ˈkʌmfətəbəl/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "comfortable"?

/ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/ in American English, /ˈkʌmfətəbəl/ in British English, /ˈkɐmf.tə.bəl/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "comfortable"?

“comfortable” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

• Words that lose a syllable
• -ABLE and -IBLE words
• IELTS pronunciation words