Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

helpful

/ˈhɛlp.fl̩/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.43 in modern English

Syllables: help-ful
IPA: /ˈhɛlp.fl̩/

15

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Furnishing help; gives aid; useful.

Example Sentences

"a helpful clue"
"a helpful person"
"[…]inſtructe the yonge Chyrurgiane, becauſe that vvithout making any great delaye, he might be adiuvable & helpefull to the patient vvith theſe remedyes vvhich conſequently follovve."

Etymology

From Middle English helpful; equivalent to help + -ful.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: helpful
Suffix: help

Inflected Forms

more helpful (comparative) most helpful (superlative) helpfull (alternative, archaic) helpefull (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

helpfully helpfulness nonhelpful overhelpful unhelpful unhelpfully

Synonyms

friendly obliging

Antonyms

unhelpful

Rhymes With

unhelpful

Questions

How do you pronounce helpful?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈhɛlp.fl̩/.
What does helpful mean?: Furnishing help; gives aid; useful.
Where does helpful come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce helpful

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “helpful”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈhɛlp.fl̩/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “helpful”.
Repeat and practice — Say “helpful” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.