How to pronounce idle
Say it like EYE-dul. Idle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EYE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce idle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EYE
- dul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Idle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EYESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- dulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of idle
American and British speakers say idle in essentially the same way: /ˈaɪdəl/ in the US and /ˈaɪdəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: EYE-dul.
What does idle mean?
- not in action or at work“an idle laborer”“idle drifters”
- without a basis in reason or fact“baseless gossip”“the allegations proved groundless”
- not in active use“the machinery sat idle during the strike”“idle hands”
- run disconnected or idle“the engine is idling”
- be idle; exist in a changeless situation“The old man sat and stagnated on his porch”“He slugged in bed all morning”
- the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling“the car engine was running at idle”
Where does idle come from?
From Middle English idel, ydel, from Old English īdel, from Proto-West Germanic *īdl, from Proto-Germanic *īdlaz.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with idle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of idle.
Words that sound like idle
Questions about saying idle
How do you pronounce idle?
Say EYE-dul. The American pronunciation is /ˈaɪdəl/. In British English it is /ˈaɪdəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in idle?
Idle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EYE). Broken into parts: EYE · dul.
Do Americans and Brits say idle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈaɪdəl/ and the British form is /ˈaɪdəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as idle?
Idle sounds the same as idol in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.