How to pronounce cool
Say it like KOOL. Cool is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- KOOL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cool pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOOLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of cool
American and British speakers say cool in essentially the same way: /kul/ in the US and /kuːl/ in the UK.
British respelling: KOOL.
What does cool mean?
- Of a mildly low temperature.“I like cool weather the most 'cause it's not too hot to wear a jacket but I won't be too cold in my shorts.”
- Allowing or suggesting heat relief.“Linen has made cool and breathable clothing for millennia.”
- Of a color, in the range of violet to green.“If you have a reddish complexion, you should mainly wear cool colors.”
- A moderate or refreshing state of cold; moderate temperature of the air between hot and cold; coolness.“in the cool of the morning”
- A calm temperament.
- The property of being cool, popular or in fashion.
- To lose heat, to get colder.“I like to let my tea cool before drinking it so I don't burn my tongue.”
- To make cooler, less warm.
- To become less intense, e.g. less amicable or passionate.“Relations cooled between the USA and the USSR after 1980.”
Where does cool come from?
Cognate with North Frisian kool, koul, kuul, kölj, kööl (“cold”), Saterland Frisian köil (“cool”), West Frisian koel (“cool”), Cimbrian khuul (“chilly, cool”), Dutch koel (“cool”), German kühl (“cool”), Low German köhl (“cool”), Luxembourgi
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with cool
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cool.
Words that sound like cool
- kool
Questions about saying cool
How do you pronounce cool?
Say KOOL. The American pronunciation is /kul/. In British English it is /kuːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cool?
Cool is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KOOL.
Do Americans and Brits say cool the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kul/ and the British form is /kuːl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as cool?
Cool sounds the same as kool in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.