How to pronounce burl
Say it like BURL. Burl is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce burl. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BURL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Burl pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BURLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of burl
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BURL.
What does burl mean?
- A tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner; a burr knot.
- Wood of a mottled veneer, usually cut from such a growth.
- A knot or lump in thread or cloth.
- To remove the knots in cloth.
Where does burl come from?
From Middle English burle (“a knot or flaw in cloth”), from Old French bourle (“flocks or ends of threads which disfigure cloth”), diminutive of Old French bourre, from Medieval Latin burra (“flock of wool, coarse hair”).
Words that rhyme with burl
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of burl.
Questions about saying burl
How do you pronounce burl?
Say BURL. The American pronunciation is /bɝl/. In British English it is /bɜːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in burl?
Burl is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BURL.
Is burl pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /bɜːl/ (BURL).