How Do You Spell SORROWFUL?

Pronunciation: [sˈɒɹə͡ʊfə͡l] (IPA)

The word "sorrowful" is spelled with four syllables - /sɒr.əʊ.fʊl/. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "o" sound, followed by the second syllable that has a schwa sound. The third syllable consists of a long "o" sound, and the final syllable has a short "u" sound. Using IPA phonetic transcription, we can see that the spelling of "sorrowful" accurately represents the sounds we make when pronouncing it. The word is commonly used to describe feelings of sadness or grief.

SORROWFUL Meaning and Definition

1. Sorrowful is an adjective that describes a profound feeling of sadness, grief, or unhappiness. It refers to a state of deep sorrow or lamentation caused by unfortunate events, losses, or painful experiences. When someone is sorrowful, they often exhibit signs of melancholy, expressing their emotions through tears, a heavy heart, or a mournful expression.

   This term conveys a sense of profound sadness that goes beyond mere unhappiness or temporary disappointment. It implies a deeper emotional distress caused by bereavement, heartbreak, or other significant tragedies in one's life. A sorrowful person may experience a keen sense of loss, disappointment, or regret, manifesting in prolonged mourning or a prolonged state of sadness.

   Sorrowful can also describe an atmosphere or setting that evokes feelings of melancholy and sadness. For instance, a sorrowful melody might elicit empathy or make one feel nostalgic or melancholic. Similarly, a sorrowful landscape or scene might evoke feelings of desolation or melancholy.

   Overall, the term sorrowful encompasses a wide range of emotions associated with profound sadness or grief. It describes a deep and enduring sense of sorrow experienced by individuals or evoked by certain aspects of the world around us, reflecting the human experience of loss, pain, and mourning.

2. Sad; mournful; grieving for some loss or disappointment; depressed; dejected.

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

Top Common Misspellings for SORROWFUL *

• sorrowfull 85.7142857%

* 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 SORROWFUL

• sarrowful
• sorroful
• sorriful
• aorrowful
• zorrowful
• xorrowful
• sorowful
• sorwful
• burrowful
• borowful
• sorprowful
• sorowfull

Etymology of SORROWFUL

The word "sorrowful" originates from the Middle English term "sorrowfulle", which can be traced back to the Old English word "sorgful", composed of "sorg", meaning "sorrow" or "grief", and the suffix "-ful", denoting "full of" or "characterized by". The Old English "sorgful" was derived from the Proto-Germanic term "sorgafullaz", where "sorga" meant "sorrow" and "fullaz" meant "full of". Ultimately, the Proto-Germanic term traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root *swer-, indicating "heavy" or "weighed down". Therefore, the etymology of "sorrowful" is deeply rooted in the concept of sorrow and grief.

Similar spelling word for SORROWFUL

• sorrowfully.