How to pronounce cradle
Say it like KRAY-dul. Cradle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cradle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KRAY
- dul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cradle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KRAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- dulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of cradle
American and British speakers say cradle in essentially the same way: /ˈkreɪdəl/ in the US and /ˈkreɪdəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: KRAY-dul.
What does cradle mean?
- a baby bed with sides and rockers
- where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence“the birthplace of civilization”
- birth of a person“he was taught from the cradle never to cry”
- hold gently and carefully“He cradles the child in his arms”
- bring up from infancy
- hold or place in or as if in a cradle“He cradled the infant in his arms”
Where does cradle come from?
From Middle English cradel, credel, from Old English cradol, from Proto-West Germanic *kradul, from Proto-Germanic *kradulaz, from Proto-Germanic *kradô (“(wicker) basket”).
Words that rhyme with cradle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cradle.
Questions about saying cradle
How do you pronounce cradle?
Say KRAY-dul. The American pronunciation is /ˈkreɪdəl/. In British English it is /ˈkreɪdəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cradle?
Cradle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRAY). Broken into parts: KRAY · dul.
Do Americans and Brits say cradle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkreɪdəl/ and the British form is /ˈkreɪdəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.