American English

How to pronounce thoughtful

adjectiveB1
THAWTfl

/ˈθɔt̚.fl̩/

2 syllables · Stress the first syllable.

Showing that you care about other people's feelings and needs.

What to listen for

Thoughtful is commonly pronounced /ˈθɔt̚.fl̩/. Some American speakers use /ˈθɑt̚.fl̩/ because they pronounce the vowels in “cot” and “caught” the same.

Usual pronunciation/ˈθɔt̚.fl̩/
Common variant/ˈθɑt̚.fl̩/
Practice out loud

Meanings & examples

adjective

Showing that you care about other people's feelings and needs.

That was a thoughtful gift.

It's thoughtful of you to call.

Good to know

Thoughtful often means considerate, not only someone who thinks a lot.

Common phrases & grammar

a thoughtful person · a thoughtful gift · a thoughtful gesture

a thoughtful + noun

be thoughtful toward + person

adjective

Showing careful thought and attention; not careless or rushed.

She gave a thoughtful answer.

He made a thoughtful decision.

Common phrases & grammar

a thoughtful answer · a thoughtful response · a thoughtful question

a thoughtful + noun

be thoughtful about + noun

Useful expressions

Related words & forms