How to pronounce grapple
Say it like GRAP-ul. Grapple has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GRAP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce grapple. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GRAP
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Grapple pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GRAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of grapple
American and British speakers say grapple in essentially the same way: /ˈɡræpəl/ in the US and /ˈɡræpəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: GRAP-ul.
What does grapple mean?
- To seize something and hold it firmly.
- To wrestle or tussle.
- To ponder and intensely evaluate a problem; to struggle to deal with.“to grapple with one's conscience”
- A close hand-to-hand struggle.
- The act of grappling. (uncountable)
- A device consisting of iron claws, attached to the end of a rope, used for grasping and holding an enemy ship prior to boarding; a grappling iron.
- A grapnel (“type of anchor”).
Where does grapple come from?
Cognate with Dutch grabbelen (“to grope, scramble, scrabble”), German grabbeln (“to rummage, grope about”) and grapsen, grapschen (“to seize, grasp, grabble”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with grapple
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of grapple.
Questions about saying grapple
How do you pronounce grapple?
Say GRAP-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈɡræpəl/. In British English it is /ˈɡræpəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in grapple?
Grapple has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GRAP). Broken into parts: GRAP · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say grapple the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɡræpəl/ and the British form is /ˈɡræpəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.