How to pronounce dongle
Say it like DONG-gul. Dongle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DONG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dongle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DONG
- gul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dongle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DONGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- gulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of dongle
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: DONG-gul.
What does dongle mean?
- Any small device that plugs into an electronic device, typically a computer, and alters its functionality. Common examples include wireless modems, digital media players, software copy protect devices, and adapters.
- A hardware device used by a specific application for purposes of copy protection.
Where does dongle come from?
Unknown. Likely a descendant of dangle, reflecting that electronic accessories such as computer peripherals often are plugged in via a flexible cable (although wirelessness is also often relevant).
Questions about saying dongle
How do you pronounce dongle?
Say DONG-gul. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɑŋɡəl/. In British English it is /ˈdɒŋɡəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dongle?
Dongle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DONG). Broken into parts: DONG · gul.
Is dongle pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈdɒŋɡəl/ (DONG-gul).