What is awful? Pronunciation and usage in English

awful means . Learn how to pronounce and use awful through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of awful

awfuladjective

/ˈɔːf(ʊ)l/
Definition & pronunciation of awful

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "awful" in English. It's a tricky one for many learners! Here's a breakdown:

1. The Core Sound:

  • "aw" – This is the most important part. It’s a diphthong, meaning it's a blended sound that moves smoothly. It’s not like the "a" in "cat." Think of it as a sound somewhere between "ah" and "o." A good way to visualize it is like the "a" in "father" but a bit shorter and more open.
  • "ful" – This part is relatively straightforward. It's pronounced like “full,” but with a “f” sound at the beginning.

2. Putting it Together:

The entire word is pronounced: ˈæfəl

Let’s break it down further:

  • ˈæ - This is the stressed syllable. It’s the "aw" sound described above – think "father" but shorter. The 'ˈ' symbol indicates a stressed syllable.
  • f – A crisp "f" sound.
  • əl – Pronounced like “uhl.” It's a very short, unstressed sound.

3. Tips and Common Mistakes:

  • Don’t say “a-ful”: Many people naturally fall into this trap. It's important to get that long "a" sound.
  • Avoid rounding your lips too much: While you’ll need to slightly round your lips for the “aw” sound, don’t overdo it.
  • Listen to recordings: The best way to learn is to hear native speakers pronounce it. Here are some resources:
    • Google Translate: Type "awful" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon.
    • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/awful/ – This website has recordings of the word pronounced by many different people with various accents.
    • YouTube: Search on YouTube for "how to pronounce awful" to find videos.

To recap: ˈæfəl (Stress the first syllable – the “aw” sound).

Would you like me to:

  • Give you some example sentences?
  • Focus on a particular aspect of the pronunciation (e.g., the “aw” sound)?

Usage and examples with the word awful in English

Let's break down how to use the word "awful" in English. It's a really common word, but it has a bit of a nuanced meaning.

1. Basic Meaning: Extremely Bad

  • At its core, "awful" means extremely bad, unpleasant, or terrible. It's a stronger word than "bad" or "poor."

    • Example: "The movie was awful. I couldn't even sit through it."
    • Example: "I have an awful headache."

2. Usage – Different Contexts

The meaning of "awful" can shift slightly depending on how it's used. Here's a breakdown of the common ways it’s used:

  • a. For Experiences (often with "feeling"): This is perhaps the most common usage. It describes a strong feeling of unpleasantness or distress.

    • Example: "I had an awful day at work today." (Feeling of stress, frustration, difficulty)
    • Example: "It's awful to be sick." (Feeling of discomfort, misery)
    • Example: "The rain made the concert awful." (The experience was ruined.)

  • b. For Things (objects, situations): When describing something tangible, it still signifies a significant negative quality.

    • Example: "That was an awful piece of furniture – it looked cheap and uncomfortable."
    • Example: "The traffic was awful this morning." (Meaning: heavy, slow, difficult)
    • Example: "He gave me an awful present – a rubber chicken!" (Meaning: a genuinely bad gift)

  • c. (Less Common) – As an Intensifier: Occasionally, "awful" is used as a slightly dramatic intensifier, similar to "really" or "very," but it's less common and can sound a bit over-the-top if used too frequently.

    • Example: "It was awfully cold outside." (Could be replaced with “It was very cold.”) - Use this sparingly!

3. Tone and Register

  • Informal: "Awful" is perfectly acceptable in casual conversation with friends and family.
  • Formal: While you can use it in more formal writing or speech, it can sound a little dramatic. "Terrible," "unpleasant," or "poor" might be better choices in a formal setting.

4. Commonly Used Phrases

  • "Awful lot": (Informal) – meaning "a great deal" or "a lot." "There were an awful lot of people at the concert."
  • "Awful sorry": (Informal) - meaning "really sorry" or "very regretful." "I'm awful sorry I missed your birthday." (Be aware this isn’t standard British English)

5. Synonyms (words with similar meanings)

  • Terrible
  • Dreadful
  • Horrible
  • Unpleasant
  • Bad
  • Poor

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you thinking about using "awful" in? (e.g., a story, a conversation, an email, etc.)
  • Is there a specific sentence you're trying to write that uses "awful"?

Synonyms for the word awful

Practice with vocabulary awful

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The weather today is absolutely __________; I’ve never seen so much rain.
  2. Despite the criticism, her performance in the play was __________, and she received a standing ovation.
  3. I had an __________ experience at the restaurant—the food was cold and the service was rude.
  4. The traffic was __________ during rush hour, but it improved once we got on the highway.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which word best describes a terrible or unpleasant experience?
    a) Amazing
    b) Awful
    c) Wonderful
    d) Delightful

  2. Choose the word that fits contextually: "The smell in the room was __________."
    a) Awful
    b) Pleasant
    c) Fragrant
    d) Mild

  3. Which of the following words does not mean the same as "awful"?
    a) Horrible
    b) Dreadful
    c) Excellent
    d) Terrible

  4. Which word best replaces "terrible" in this sentence? "The movie’s plot was terrible, and I couldn’t finish it."
    a) Awful
    b) Fantastic
    c) Inspiring
    d) Mediocre

  5. Which of these sentences does not use a synonym for "awful"?
    a) The food tasted bad.
    b) The service was dreadful.
    c) The view was breathtaking.
    d) The situation was atrocious.

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: The hotel room was in very bad condition.
    Rewrite: The hotel room was __________.

  2. Original: The movie was extremely unpleasant to watch.
    Rewrite: The movie was __________.

  3. Original: The meeting was terrible, and everyone left frustrated.
    Rewrite: The meeting was __________, and everyone left frustrated.

Answers:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The weather today is absolutely awful; I’ve never seen so much rain.
  2. Despite the criticism, her performance in the play was excellent, and she received a standing ovation.
  3. I had an awful experience at the restaurant—the food was cold and the service was rude.
  4. The traffic was horrible during rush hour, but it improved once we got on the highway.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) Awful
  2. a) Awful
  3. c) Excellent
  4. a) Awful
  5. c) The view was breathtaking.

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The hotel room was awful.
  2. The movie was awful.
  3. The meeting was dreadful, and everyone left frustrated.

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