How to pronounce wistful
American English pronunciation
WIST-full
- IPA
- /ˈwɪstfəl/
- Syllables
- WIST · full (2 syllables, stress on the 1st)
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What wistful means
Quietly sad while wishing for something
In a sentence: Grandma got a wistful look when she saw the old photo.
Where it comes from: First seen in the 1600s; possibly a blend of "wishful" and "whist" (quiet).
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