American English pronunciation

How to pronounce comfortable

/ˈkʌmftərbəl/KUMF-ter-buhl3 syllables

“comfortable” is one of those English words that looks nothing like it sounds. It's 3 syllables (KUMF-ter-buhl), and the trick is in the sounds below — hear it, then say it back and let our AI model show you how close you landed.

Say it & get scored

Hear comfortable, then record yourself and our AI model will score your pronunciation, sound by sound.

The sounds to nail

  • /ʌ/as in cup

    Relaxed central vowel (sometimes a schwa /ə/ when unstressed). Don't pronounce the full vowel in unstressed syllables.

  • /ɹ/as in red

    American /r/: bunch the tongue back and slightly up. Lips rounded. Don't tap the roof.

  • /l/as in love

    Tongue tip at gum ridge. At the end of a syllable ('feel'), the tongue body also pulls back — the dark L.

Trickier for some first languages

The sounds in “comfortable” are common stumbling blocks for speakers of:

Common questions

How many syllables are in “comfortable”?
“Comfortable” has 3 syllables: KUMF-ter-buhl.
What is the IPA for “comfortable”?
The American English IPA transcription of “comfortable” is ˈkʌmftərbəl.
How can I practice pronouncing “comfortable”?
Press play to hear “comfortable” spoken by our AI model, then record yourself on this page to get an instant pronunciation score — your first try needs no account.

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More words to practice

How to Pronounce “Comfortable” · Crisp Speak