How Do You Spell AWFUL?

Pronunciation: [ˈɔːfə͡l] (IPA)

The word "awful" is commonly spelled with the letters "a-w-f-u-l". In IPA phonetic transcription, it is written as /ˈɔː.fʊl/, which shows that the vowel sound in the first syllable is a long "o" sound, followed by the "f" and "u" sounds. The final syllable has the "uh" vowel sound ("u" as in "up") and the "l" sound. Despite the negative connotation of the word, its spelling is quite straightforward and follows consistent rules of English phonetics.

Meaning and Definition
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Etymology
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AWFUL Meaning and Definition

  1. The term "awful" typically functions as an adjective and has multiple senses, ranging from its more traditional usage to its colloquial meaning. Traditionally, "awful" describes something extremely unpleasant, causing a great deal of fear, dread, or disgust. It suggests a sense of terror, horror, or profound negativity. In this context, "awful" conveys a strong emotional impact, characterizing something as repulsive, terrible, or dreadful.

    However, in colloquial use, "awful" has evolved to also mean extremely bad, of poor quality, or unsatisfactory. It can denote something that is considered below standard, lacking in skill or proficiency, or generally unimpressive. This usage relies less on emotional connotations and is more focused on expressing disappointment or dissatisfaction.

    Furthermore, "awful" may also be applied to emphasize an excessive or extreme quality of something, whether positive or negative. For instance, it can describe an "awfully beautiful" scene, highlighting its overwhelming aesthetic appeal, or an "awfully long" wait, underscoring the excessive duration.

    Overall, even though "awful" has its roots in describing intense negativity, its modern usage has expanded to encompass a broader range of meanings, including highly unfavorable circumstances, subpar quality, or an extreme degree of any attribute.

  2. Terrible, dreadful.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for AWFUL *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for AWFUL

Etymology of AWFUL

The word awful originates from the Middle English word aueful, which is derived from the Old English term egefull. In Old English, egefull meant causing fear, terror, combining ege, meaning fear, and full, denoting full of. Over time, the meaning of awful shifted to causing or inspiring awe and reverence. Later, in the 18th century, it acquired its present-day meaning of extremely bad, unpleasant, or terrible.

Idioms with the word AWFUL

  • something awful The idiom "something awful" is typically used to describe an extreme or intense level of something. It signifies that the situation, event, or action being referred to is of great magnitude, intensity, or severity, often in a negative sense. It suggests that the subject is exceptionally bad, terrible, or unpleasant.

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