How to pronounce beetle
Say it like BEE-tul. Beetle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEE).
- BEE
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Beetle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of beetle
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: BEE-tul.
What does beetle mean?
- Any of numerous species of insect in the order Coleoptera characterized by a pair of hard, shell-like front wings which cover and protect a pair of rear wings when at rest.
- A game of chance in which players attempt to complete a drawing of a beetle, different dice rolls allowing them to add the various body parts.
- Alternative letter-case form of Beetle (“car”).
- To move (away) quickly, to scurry away.“He beetled off on his vacation.”
- Protruding, jutting, overhanging.“beetle brows”
Where does beetle come from?
From Middle English bitle, bityl, bytylle, from Old English bitula, bitela, bītel (“beetle”), from Proto-West Germanic *bitilō, *bītil, from Proto-Germanic *bitilô, *bītilaz (“that which tends to bite, biter, beetle”), equivalent to bite + -le.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with beetle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of beetle.
Words that sound like beetle
- beatle
Questions about saying beetle
How do you pronounce beetle?
Say BEE-tul. The American pronunciation is /ˈbitəl/. In British English it is /ˈbiːtəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in beetle?
Beetle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEE). Broken into parts: BEE · tul.
Is beetle pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈbiːtəl/ (BEE-tul).
What words sound the same as beetle?
Beetle sounds the same as beatle in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.