How to pronounce comfortable

The trap

It looks like four syllables, com-for-ta-ble, but most speakers say three. The “for” collapses and the t moves to the next syllable.

Tip. Start with “kumf”, then a quick “ter-bul”. Keep the stress on the first syllable.

More on this sound: The schwa /ə/: how to pronounce the most common sound in English

Say it in a sentence

1. This chair is really comfortable. Practice
2. Make yourself comfortable while you wait. Practice

Tono scores English against the US model and colors every word, so you can see whether comfortable landed.

More words like this: fewer syllables than they look

• vegetable /ˈvɛdʒtəbəl/
• interesting /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/
• temperature /ˈtɛmprətʃɚ/
• chocolate /ˈtʃɑːklət/
• February /ˈfɛbjuˌɛri/
• library /ˈlaɪbrɛri/