2 syllables: full, ness. Stress on full.
FUUL-nuhs
/ˈfʊlnəs/
fullness is pronounced FUUL-nuhs (/ˈfʊlnəs/). It has two syllables (full-ness), with the stress on "full". Fullness refers to the state or quality of being full or complete, as in having a substantial amount or volume. It can describe physical fullness, abundance, or a sense of satisfaction. In linguistics, fullness can also convey emphasis or completeness in expression. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words).
Fullness refers to the state or quality of being full or complete, as in having a substantial amount or volume. It can describe physical fullness, abundance, or a sense of satisfaction. In linguistics, fullness can also convey emphasis or completeness in expression. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words)
"The fullness of the harvest filled the barns to capacity."
"Her cheeks showed fullness after the holiday feast."
"We felt a sense of fullness in the room as the speech concluded."
Pronounce as two syllables: /ˈfʊl.nəs/. The first syllable has the short u as in 'pull' and carries primary stress. The second syllable is a light, unstressed /nəs/. In careful speech, ensure the /l/ blends smoothly into the /n/ without creating an extra vowel. You can hear examples in dictionaries or pronunciation tools by searching for 'fullness' with audio, then imitate the mouth shape and rhythm.
Common mistakes include pronouncing a stronger schwa in the second syllable or misplacing the primary stress, leading to /ˈfʊlɪnəs/ or /ˈfɜːlnəs/. Some speakers insert an extra vowel between /l/ and /n/, producing /ˈfʊl lənəs/. To correct, keep /l/ directly followed by /n/ with a reduced final /əs/, and maintain the two-syllable rhythm: /ˈfʊl.nəs/.
In General American, /ˈfʊl.nəs/ with rhotic pronouncing /r/ absent after the vowel. In UK and many Australian varieties, /ˈfʊl.nəs/ remains similar, but vowel quality can be slightly tenser in UK and more centralized in Australian speech. The main differences are subtle vowel height and lip rounding influenced by the surrounding consonants; the final /əs/ tends to be a light schwa plus /s/ in many accents. Overall, rhotics are not pronounced in non-rhotic accents, keeping /ˈfʊl.nəs/ consistent in stress placement.
Because it combines a demanding consonant cluster /l/ before /n/ in rapid speech and ends with a soft /əs/, which can blur in fast connected speech. The tongue must transition quickly from the high, fronted /ʊ/ to the alveolar /l/ and then to /n/ without inserting extra vowels. The stress on the first syllable requires precise timing so the /l/ keeps its laminal contact while avoiding vowel intrusion in the second syllable.
A unique point is the clean junction between the /l/ and /n/ in fluent speech. You should maintain a light but clear /l/ release into the alveolar /n/ without a separate vowel, ensuring the second syllable stays unstressed. In careful pronunciation, you’ll notice a subtle, almost imperceptible link between /l/ and /n/ that helps the word flow smoothly in sentences.
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Fullness comes from the adjective full, with the suffix -ness forming a noun that denotes a state or quality. The root full traces to Old English full, which itself derives from Proto-Germanic fulaz, related to Dutch vol and German voll, all signifying being laden, filled, or complete. The sense of marginless capacity evolved in Middle English to denote both literal fullness (e.g., container filled) and abstract abundance or degree (e.g., fullness of meaning). Over centuries, fullness broadened to describe emotional or experiential completeness (e.g., a fullness of life), while retaining core imagery of being filled to capacity. First known uses appear in medieval manuscripts, with textual examples in religious and everyday contexts indicating fullness as both physical and metaphorical fullness. The term has remained stable in meaning, though metaphorical use has grown with literature and modern idiomatic expressions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "fullness" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "fullness" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "fullness"
-ess sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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