How to pronounce bagel
Say it like BAY-gul. Bagel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bagel. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAY
- gul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bagel pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- gulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of bagel
American and British speakers say bagel in essentially the same way: /ˈbeɪɡəl/ in the US and /ˈbeɪɡəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAY-gul.
What does bagel mean?
- A toroidal bread roll that is boiled before it is baked.
- A score of 6-0 in a set (after the shape of a bagel, which looks like a zero).
- Alternative form of bagle.
- To achieve a score of 6–0 (as the winner) in a tennis set.
- To hold an opponent to a score of zero.
Words that rhyme with bagel
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bagel.
Questions about saying bagel
How do you pronounce bagel?
Say BAY-gul. The American pronunciation is /ˈbeɪɡəl/. In British English it is /ˈbeɪɡəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bagel?
Bagel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAY). Broken into parts: BAY · gul.
Do Americans and Brits say bagel the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbeɪɡəl/ and the British form is /ˈbeɪɡəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.