How to pronounce bustle
Say it like BUHS-ul. Bustle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHS).
- BUHS
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bustle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BUHSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of bustle
American and British speakers say bustle in essentially the same way: /ˈbʌsəl/ in the US and /ˈbʌsəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: BUHS-ul.
What does bustle mean?
- An excited activity; a stir.“the hum and bustle; a din and bustle”
- A cover to protect and hide the back panel of a computer or other office machine.
- To move busily and energetically with fussiness (often followed by about).“The commuters bustled about inside the train station.”
- To teem or abound (usually followed by with); to exhibit an energetic and active abundance (of a thing).“The train station was bustling with commuters.”
- To push around, to importune.
Where does bustle come from?
The etymology of noun sense 3 is uncertain, perhaps related to busk (“strip in a corset”) or German Buschel.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with bustle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bustle.
Questions about saying bustle
How do you pronounce bustle?
Say BUHS-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈbʌsəl/. In British English it is /ˈbʌsəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bustle?
Bustle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHS). Broken into parts: BUHS · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say bustle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbʌsəl/ and the British form is /ˈbʌsəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.