How to pronounce hurdle
Say it like HUR-dul. Hurdle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hurdle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HUR
- dul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hurdle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- dulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of hurdle
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HUR-dul.
What does hurdle mean?
- An artificial barrier, variously constructed, over which athletes or horses jump in a race.“He ran in the 100 metres hurdles.”
- An obstacle, real or perceived, physical or abstract.
- A movable frame of wattled twigs, osiers, or withes and stakes, or sometimes of iron, used for enclosing land, for folding sheep and cattle, for gates, etc.; also, in fortification, used as revetments, and for other purposes.
- To jump over something while running.“He hurdled the bench in his rush to get away.”
- To compete in the track and field events of hurdles (e.g. high hurdles).
- To overcome an obstacle.
Where does hurdle come from?
From Middle English hurdel, hirdel, herdel, hyrdel, from Old English hyrdel (“frame of intertwined twigs used as a temporary barrier”), diminutive of *hyrd, from Proto-Germanic *hurdiz, from Pre-Germanic *kr̥h₂tis, from Proto-Indo-European *kreh₂-.
Words that rhyme with hurdle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hurdle.
Questions about saying hurdle
How do you pronounce hurdle?
Say HUR-dul. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɝdəl/. In British English it is /ˈhɜːdəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hurdle?
Hurdle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HUR). Broken into parts: HUR · dul.
Is hurdle 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 /ˈhɜːdəl/ (HUR-dul).