Learn How to Say and Use "Comfortable" in American English

Hi everyone. I'm Jennifer from English with Jennifer. How comfortable are you

saying long words in English? Well, in this video, I'll help you say and use at

least one of those words: comfortable. In everyday American English, we say this

word with three syllables: comfortable. Stress is on the first:

COMfortable. It sounds like I'm saying "kumf ter bull." Let's say it again. We'll say

it slowly and then fast: comfortable, comfortable. You may hear some American

English speakers say this word with four syllables: comfortable, comfortable. But I

think this variation is a little less common. We can use this adjective to

describe physical comfort: a comfortable chair, a comfortable sofa. Hotel beds are

usually comfortable. A flight attendant might ask a passenger, "Are you

comfortable?" When you sit in an expensive car, you expect everything to be very

comfortable. The seats should be comfortable to sit in. The steering wheel

should be comfortable to hold.

Let me quiz you on two other meanings of the word comfortable. First, I asked my

friend Nelson about his ex-girlfriend. He said he wasn't comfortable talking about

her. What does that mean? A. He needs to sit in a nice, soft chair in order to

talk about this. B. He doesn't have time to talk about this. C. He becomes upset if

he talks about this.

Most likely the answer is C. Talking about his ex-girlfriend makes him upset.

This topic is still a source of stress for him. So "comfortable" isn't just about

physical comfort. If you're comfortable, then something doesn't cause you any

stress. It doesn't give you any reason to worry. When someone says, "I don't feel

comfortable talking about that," it means they don't want to talk about it because

they feel uncomfortable. "Uncomfortable." That's the opposite. They can't relax and

feel at peace. Experience makes a task familiar. Right? I'm comfortable making

videos because I've been doing it for a long time. Other people aren't

comfortable seeing themselves or hearing themselves on camera. Here's yet one more

meaning of the word "comfortable." If I talk about a friend who got a job at a

very good law firm and now enjoys a comfortable lifestyle, what exactly does

that mean? A. All of her furniture is nice and soft. B. She has enough money to meet

all her needs. C. Nothing ever worries her.

The answer is B. Being comfortable can refer to having enough money.

For practice, you can answer these questions. 1. What would you describe as a

comfortable income for a single person (not married, no children)? How much does

that figure change for a family of four?

2. Describe your most comfortable pair of shoes. 3. Are you comfortable with

people you just met? Are you comfortable having a

conversation with them? That's all for now. Please like and share this video if

you found it useful. As always, thanks for watching and happy studies!

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