How to pronounce brutal
Say it like BROO-tul. Brutal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BROO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce brutal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BROO
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Brutal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BROOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of brutal
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: BROO-tul.
What does brutal mean?
- (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering“a barbarous crime”“brutal beatings”
- punishingly harsh“the brutal summer sun”“a brutal winter”
- resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility“beastly desires”“a bestial nature”
Where does brutal come from?
From Medieval Latin brutalis (“savage, stupid”), from Latin brūtus (“dull, stupid”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with brutal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of brutal.
Questions about saying brutal
How do you pronounce brutal?
Say BROO-tul. The American pronunciation is /ˈbrutəl/. In British English it is /ˈbruːtəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in brutal?
Brutal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BROO). Broken into parts: BROO · tul.
Is brutal 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 /ˈbruːtəl/ (BROO-tul).