TRUHS-twur-thee
/ˈtɹʌsˌtwɝði/
trustworthy is pronounced TRUHS-twur-thee (/ˈtɹʌsˌtwɝði/). Trustworthy is an adjective describing someone or something deserving of trust due to可靠性, integrity, and consistency. It conveys reliability and dependability, suggesting that claims or actions can be counted on. In usage, it applies to people, institutions, information, or products that meet expected standards over time.
Trustworthy is an adjective describing someone or something deserving of trust due to可靠性, integrity, and consistency. It conveys reliability and dependability, suggesting that claims or actions can be counted on. In usage, it applies to people, institutions, information, or products that meet expected standards over time.
"She is a trustworthy colleague who always meets deadlines."
"The report came from a trustworthy source, so we proceeded with caution."
"They maintained a trustworthy record of delivering on their commitments."
Say /ˈtrʌstˌwɜrði/. Start with TRUST in a stressed syllable, then glide to WER. The second syllable -worthy carries a reduced, unstressed vowel before the -ry ending; the 'w' is clearly articulated. Tip: keep the /ɜr/ diphthong tight without turning it into /ɜːr/; the final /ði/ is a soft /i/ after /r/. You’ll want a smooth connection between /st/ and /w/. Audio cues: compare to 'trust' + 'worthy' spoken together, not separately.
Two common errors: (1) Flattening the second syllable so it sounds like 'trust-wer-dy' with a weak /ɜː/ instead of /ɜr/; ensure the /ɜr/ is preserved before the /di/. (2) Over-lengthening the -worthy ending, turning it into /ˈtrʌstˌwɜːrdi/ with a long /ɜː/; keep the short /ɜr/ to mimic American /ˈtrʌstˌwɜrdi/. Correction: lightly compress the second syllable, maintain the /w/ onset, and end with a clear /i/.
In US vowels, /ˈtrʌstˌwɜrði/ with rhotic r sounds; UK tends toward a non-rhotic /ˈtrʌstˌwɜːði/ in some dialects, and Australian keeps rhoticity but with slightly broader vowels: /ˈtrʌstˌwɜːði/. The main difference lies in the rhotic /r/ quality and vowel length; Americans pronounce a more pronounced rhotic /ɜr/ vs the British typically a non-rhotic /ɜː/ before r-colored ending. Australians lie between, with clear /ɜː/ vowels, but with more centralized r-like quality.
Three factors make it tricky: the sequence trust-wardy requires a quick /st/ cluster transition into /w/, the /ɜr/ r-colored vowel in the second syllable is unfamiliar to non-American ears, and the final /ði/ can bleed into a schwa or a /i/ if not enunciated. Approach: stabilize the /st/ cluster, preserve the /ɜr/ vowel, and finish with a crisp /i/.
In trustworthy, the middle /s/ is pronounced as /s/; there is a visible /st/ cluster between /t/ and /w/. Do not skip or soften it. The syllable boundary is between trust and -worthy, so you stress the first syllable, then lightly emphasize the second. Mouth position: teeth lightly touching for /t/ and /s/, then a rounded /w/ leading into /ɜr/.
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Trustworthy comes from the noun trust, which traces to Old Norse traust, meaning a firm or steadfast faith, and the verb trust, from Old English treuwian/com liked to Dutch trouwen, all connected to fidelity and fidelity-related meanings. The suffix -worthy is from Old English -w(i)orth, meaning ‘worthy of’ or ‘deserving of,’ used to form adjectives indicating suitability or fitness. The combination of trust + worthy first appeared in Early Modern English to describe someone or something that merits trust or confidence. In idiomatic usage, trustworthy gradually broadened beyond personal character to include statements, systems, or processes that satisfy criteria for reliability. The semantic evolution reflects social emphasis on veracity, dependability, and integrity in interactions, commerce, and information exchange. First known attestations date to late medieval/early modern texts, where moral character and fidelity were central to social contracts. Over time, the term gained broader workplace and consumer connotations, aligning with contemporary expectations for verifiable reliability and transparent conduct. In contemporary usage, trustworthy commonly qualifies people, sources, data, products, and institutions, signaling a high level of consistency, truthfulness, and adherence to stated commitments, even in uncertain circumstances.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "trustworthy" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "trustworthy"
-ful sounds
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