How to pronounce counsel
Say it like KOWN-sul. Counsel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOWN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce counsel. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOWN
- sul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Counsel pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOWNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- sulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of counsel
American and British speakers say counsel in essentially the same way: /ˈkaʊnsəl/ in the US and /ˈkaʊnsəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: KOWN-sul.
What does counsel mean?
- a lawyer who pleads cases in court
- something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action
- give advice to“The teacher counsels troubled students”“The lawyer counselled me when I was accused of tax fraud”
Where does counsel come from?
From Middle English counseil, conseil, from Old French conseil, from Latin cōnsilium, of unknown origin but possibly from either com- + calō (via a phonetic variant of concilium) or cōnsulō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with counsel
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of counsel.
Words that sound like counsel
Questions about saying counsel
How do you pronounce counsel?
Say KOWN-sul. The American pronunciation is /ˈkaʊnsəl/. In British English it is /ˈkaʊnsəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in counsel?
Counsel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOWN). Broken into parts: KOWN · sul.
Do Americans and Brits say counsel the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkaʊnsəl/ and the British form is /ˈkaʊnsəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as counsel?
Counsel sounds the same as council in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.