How to pronounce fertile
Say it like FUR-tul. Fertile has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fertile. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FUR
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fertile pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of fertile
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: FUR-tyle.
Other ways to say fertile
Fertile also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- fer-TYLE /fɚˈtaɪl/
What does fertile mean?
- capable of reproducing
- intellectually productive“a prolific writer”“a fecund imagination”
- bearing in abundance especially offspring“flying foxes are extremely prolific”“a prolific pear tree”
Where does fertile come from?
From Middle English, from Middle French fertile, from Old French fertile, from Latin fertilis (“fruitful, fertile”), from ferō (“to bear, carry”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with fertile
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of fertile.
Questions about saying fertile
How do you pronounce fertile?
Say FUR-tul. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɝtəl/. In British English it is /ˈfɜːtaɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fertile?
Fertile has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FUR). Broken into parts: FUR · tul.
Is fertile pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈfɜːtaɪl/ (FUR-tyle).