What is harmful? Pronunciation and usage in English

harmful means . Learn how to pronounce and use harmful through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of harmful

harmfuladjective

/ˈhɑːmf(ʊ)l/
Definition & pronunciation of harmful

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "harmful." Here's a breakdown and a few ways to approach it:

1. Phonetic Transcription (Most Accurate):

  • /hɑːrmfəl/ (This is the closest to the actual sound)

Let's break that down:

  • hɑːr: This is the first part – “harm.”
    • h: As in "hat" – a quick, breathy sound.
    • ɑː: This is the "ah" sound, but stretched out a little. It's like the "a" in "father" or "car." It's a longer, more open vowel sound.
    • m: As in "mom."
    • f: As in "fun."
  • əl: This is the final "ful" part.
    • əl: This is a very short, unstressed "uh" sound followed by an "l." Think of it like "uh" quickly followed by "l."

2. Explanation and Emphasis:

  • Stress: The stress is on the first syllable ("harm"). When you say it, you should give the “harm” part a little more emphasis.
  • "Harm" Sound: Really focus on that stretched-out "ah" sound in "harm." It's a key part of the pronunciation.
  • “Ful” is quick: The “ful” part is very short and nearly blends into the end of the word. Don't linger on it.

3. How to Say It Out Loud (Tips):

  1. Start with "harm": Say "harm" with the long "ah" sound.
  2. Add "ful": Quickly say “ful” with a very short, unstressed "uh" sound and then the "l."

4. Listen to Examples:

The best way to learn is to hear it! Here are some resources:

  • Google Search: Search for "how to pronounce harmful" on Google and click on the audio result.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/harmful/ – This website has pronunciations from native speakers.
  • YouTube: Search YouTube for "how to pronounce harmful" - many videos will demonstrate the pronunciation.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Are you a native English speaker, or are you learning?
  • Do you have a particular accent you're trying to match (e.g., American, British)?

Usage and examples with the word harmful in English

Let's break down how to use the word "harmful" effectively in English. It's a versatile word with a specific meaning: causing damage or injury.

1. Core Meaning:

  • Harmful means causing or likely to cause harm. "Harm" itself refers to damage, injury, or distress. So, something harmful does harm.

2. How to Use It – Different Ways:

  • Describing things: This is the most common use.

    • "Smoking is harmful to your health." (It causes damage to your body.)
    • "That type of plastic is harmful to the environment." (It causes damage to the ecosystem.)
    • "Excessive sugar intake can be harmful." (It can lead to negative consequences for your body.)
    • "The chemicals in that paint are harmful to children." (They can cause damage to their developing bodies.)

  • Describing actions: You can use "harmful" to describe behaviors.

    • "His words were harmful and hurtful." (His words caused emotional damage.)
    • "Bullying is a harmful behavior." (It has negative consequences for the victim.)
    • "The policy was harmful to the local economy." (It caused damage to the economy.)

  • Describing a situation or condition:

    • "Living in poverty can be harmful to a child’s development." (The situation has negative consequences.)
    • "The constant stress is harmful to his mental health." (The condition is causing damage.)

3. Related Words & Phrases:

  • Harm: The root word. Understanding “harm” helps you understand “harmful.”
  • Harmless: The opposite of harmful.
  • Detrimental: Similar to harmful, but often suggests a more serious or long-lasting negative effect. (e.g., "The new regulations were detrimental to small businesses.")
  • Negative: Often used alongside "harmful" to emphasize the undesirable outcome. ("This is a harmful and negative trend.")
  • To be detrimental to...: “This new policy is detrimental to public health.”

4. Grammar & Usage:

  • Adjective: “Harmful” is almost always an adjective – it describes a noun. (e.g., “a harmful substance”)
  • Sentence Structure: You’ll usually see it followed by the noun it modifies.

5. Level of Formality:

"Harmful" is generally considered a straightforward and reasonably formal word. It’s suitable for most contexts, including academic writing, professional settings, and everyday conversation.

Examples Combining These Points:

  • “Studies have shown that prolonged exposure to air pollution is harmful to respiratory health.” (Describes a thing and a result)
  • "The politician’s harmful campaign rhetoric fueled division and unrest." (Describes an action and its effect.)

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you thinking about? (e.g., writing an essay, having a conversation, etc.)
  • Is there a specific situation you want to use the word in?

Synonyms for the word harmful

Practice with vocabulary harmful

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The long-term exposure to certain chemicals found in plastics can be profoundly ___________ to human reproductive health.
  2. While the new policy aimed to streamline operations, it proved to be ___________ to staff morale, leading to increased turnover.
  3. Online bullying and cyberstalking can have severe and ___________ psychological consequences for young people.
  4. The consultant recommended that the company re-evaluate its current marketing strategy, as it was considered ___________ for reaching younger demographics.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The research indicated that excessive reliance on processed foods can have ______ effects on metabolic health. a) beneficial b) negligible c) harmful d) positive e) adverse

  2. After careful consideration, the board decided to ______ the proposal, as its implementation would be too costly and complex. a) endorse b) approve c) reject d) accept e) dismiss

  3. Leaving sensitive data unprotected on public servers is an extremely ______ practice that exposes an organization to significant risks. a) secure b) harmful c) benign d) careless e) diligent

  4. While constructive criticism is valuable, continuous negative feedback without solutions can be ______ to team productivity and individual confidence. a) supportive b) detrimental c) constructive d) harmful e) advantageous

  5. The new trade tariffs were widely criticized for being ______ to international relations and economic stability. a) conducive b) advantageous c) disruptive d) favorable e) problematic

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: Over-reliance on automation can lead to a decline in critical thinking skills among employees. Rewrite using "harmful" or related word forms:

  2. Original: Smoking significantly degrades one's lung capacity and overall well-being over time. Rewrite without using "harmful":

  3. Original: Unethical business practices can severely damage a company's reputation and client trust. Rewrite using "harmful" or related word forms:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. harmful
  2. detrimental
  3. harmful
  4. ineffective

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) harmful, e) adverse
  2. c) reject, e) dismiss
  3. b) harmful, d) careless
  4. b) detrimental, d) harmful
  5. c) disruptive, e) problematic

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Over-reliance on automation can have harmful effects on critical thinking skills among employees.
  2. Smoking has a severely detrimental impact on one's lung capacity and overall well-being over time.
  3. Unethical business practices can be harmful to a company's reputation and client trust.

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