How Do You Spell MOURNFUL?

Pronunciation: [mˈɔːnfə͡l] (IPA)

The word "mournful" is spelled with a distinctive vowel sound. The IPA phonetic transcription for "mournful" is /ˈmɔːn.fʊl/. The first syllable is pronounced with the "aw" sound, like "saw" or "law". The second syllable features the "uh" sound, as in "butter" or "mother". Together, the syllables form a mournful melody, capturing the solemn and sorrowful tone of the word. If we pay close attention to the IPA phonetic transcription, we can learn to spell "mournful" accurately and pronounce it correctly.

MOURNFUL Meaning and Definition

1. "Mournful" is an adjective that describes an expression, feeling, or tone that is filled with sorrow, grief, or sadness. It is used to depict a state of mourning or to describe something that evokes feelings of deep sadness or melancholy.

   In terms of facial expressions or demeanor, someone who is mournful may have a downcast or somber expression. Their eyes might appear teary or their face may betray a sense of heavy-heartedness. It is typically associated with bereavement or the sadness one experiences after the loss of a loved one.

   The word "mournful" can also be applied to sounds or music that evoke strong emotions of sadness or grief. For example, a mournful melody might be slow, gloomy, or characteristically melancholic, evoking feelings of sorrow and anguish. Similarly, the word can be used to describe a mournful poem, painting, or any other form of art that effectively captures and communicates a profound sense of sadness.

   In summary, "mournful" is an adjective used to describe expressions, feelings, tones, or art forms that convey sorrow, grief, or sadness. Its usage encompasses the state of mourning, evoking images of sadness, and is often associated with bereavement or profound loss.

2. Expressive of grief; having the appearance of sorrow; sorrowful; doleful; sad.

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

Top Common Misspellings for MOURNFUL *

• mournfull 60%
• mornful 40%

* 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 MOURNFUL

• mountful
• moanful
• moutful
• mourneful
• mourful
• mournfuly
• urnful
• mornfuly
• Mournefull
• Dournful
• Hourkful
• Unmournful
• morenful

Etymology of MOURNFUL

The word "mournful" can be traced back to the Old English word "murnan" (pronounced "moor-nan") which means "to be sad or mourn". This Old English word is further connected to the Proto-Germanic root word "murnaną" and the Gothic word "maurþr" which both signify "grief" or "sorrow". Ultimately, the etymology of "mournful" can be linked to the Proto-Indo-European root word "mer-", meaning "to die" or "to disappear".

Similar spelling word for MOURNFUL

• mournfully.