How do you pronounce "doleful"?

In American English: /ˈdoʊlfəl/ (DOHLF-uhl). In British English: /dˈəʊlfəl/ (D-ohlf). In Canadian English: /ˈdoʊlfəl/ (DOHLF-uhl). In Australian English: /dˈəʊlfəl/ (D-ohlf).

Is "doleful" pronounced differently in American and British English?

Yes. In American English it's pronounced /ˈdoʊlfəl/ (DOHLF-uhl), while in British English it's /dˈəʊlfəl/ (D-ohlf).

How to Pronounce "doleful"

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doleful

regional

/ˈdoʊlfəl/

DOHLF-uhl

Syllable Breakdown

doʊlfdole·əlful

Source

80%confidence📘 CMU Pronouncing Dictionary v0.7b

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Last updated: 2026-02-14