2 syllables: fool, ish. Stress on fool.
FOO-lish
/ˈfulɪʃ/
foolish is pronounced FOO-lish (/ˈfulɪʃ/). It has two syllables (fool-ish), with the stress on "fool". Foolish describes someone or something lacking good sense or judgment; it can also describe actions that are unwise or silly. The term carries a mild pejorative nuance, often used playfully or critically, depending on context. It combines a sense of whimsy with potential consequences, signaling lower prudence in decision-making or behavior.
Foolish describes someone or something lacking good sense or judgment; it can also describe actions that are unwise or silly. The term carries a mild pejorative nuance, often used playfully or critically, depending on context. It combines a sense of whimsy with potential consequences, signaling lower prudence in decision-making or behavior.
"That plan sounds foolish; you could get hurt attempting it."
"Don’t be foolish and ignore the safety guidelines."
"Her foolish remark revealed a stubborn misinterpretation of the rules."
Pronounce it as /ˈfuː.lɪʃ/ in US and UK. Stress falls on the first syllable: FOOL-ish. Start with a bilabial /f/ followed by a long /uː/ vowel, then the lax /l/ and the short /ɪ/ before /ʃ/. In Australian English you’ll hear a similar pattern but with a slightly more centralized vowel in the /ʊ/ range depending on speaker.
Two common errors: misplacing stress (saying fuː-LISH) and confusing the vowel length in /ˈfuː/. Keep the long /uː/ in the first syllable and avoid reducing it to a short /ʊ/; also ensure the final /ʃ/ is not /s/ or /tʃ/. Practice by isolating the /fuː/ onset, then add the /l/ and /ɪ/ before /ʃ/. Slow practice helps enforce the correct rhythm.
In US and UK, the /ˈfuːlɪʃ/ pattern is consistent, with rhoticity affecting the following r-coloring only if present in connected speech. UK tends toward clear non-rhoticity in some accents, though /lɪʃ/ remains. Australian English often features a more centralized /uː/ and a lighter /l/; some speakers may flip to /fʊlɪʃ/ in rapid speech. Overall, the core /fuː/ diphthong remains prominent across regions, but vowel quality shifts and r-coloring vary with rhoticity.
The difficulty centers on maintaining a long /uː/ in a closed syllable followed by diminutive /l/ and the /ɪ/ before /ʃ/. The cluster /lɪ/ can blur in rapid speech, and some speakers may unwittingly reduce the vowel, saying /ˈfʊlɪʃ/ or /ˈfuːlɪʃ/ inconsistently. Pay attention to the sequence F + long U + L + I + SH; keep the /ː/ length in the first syllable and avoid substituting /ʊ/ for /uː/.
Yes: practice the sequence FOOL + SH with a gentle touch of /l/ to separate the syllables clearly. Start with /f/ + /uː/ (as in fool) and then add the /l/ and the /ɪ/ before /ʃ/. Tap the word at natural speech tempo: FOOL-ISH, then gradually speed up. Visualize the mouth shape—top teeth lightly touching bottom lip for /f/, rounded lips for /uː/, a light tongue touch for /l/, then a brief /ɪ/ and a broad /ʃ/.
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Foolish traces to the Old English word feolwsceald? actually to fool + -ish. The etymology reflects a long-standing concept of ‘fool’ meaning a person deceived or an unwise person, paired with the adjectival suffix -ish to form ‘foolish,’ describing behavior or attributes characteristic of a fool. The word ‘fool’ derives from Middle English fole, fōl, itself from Old English fola, fol, meaning a foolish person or deceiver. In medieval and early modern English, foolish often described actions or judgments rather than permanent character; by the 17th century it functioned as a standard descriptor of imprudent conduct. Over time, its usage broadened to cover playful joking as well as stronger criticism, while retaining mildness in everyday speech. Contemporary usage encompasses both light-hearted teasing and pointed admonition, frequently collocating with verbs like act, seem, appear, feel, or think foolishly. First known use in print emerges in late Middle English, with early modern texts documenting phrases such as “foolish behavior” and “foolishness” gradually becoming common in prose and poetry.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "foolish" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "foolish"
-ish sounds
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