How to pronounce impulse
Say it like IM-puls. Impulse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (IM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce impulse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- IM
- puls
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Impulse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- IMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- pulsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of impulse
American and British speakers say impulse in essentially the same way: /ˈɪmpəls/ in the US and /ˈɪmpʌls/ in the UK.
British respelling: IM-puls.
Other ways to say impulse
Impulse also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- im-PUHLS /ˌɪmˈpʌls/
What does impulse mean?
- an instinctive motive“profound religious impulses”
- a sudden desire“he bought it on an impulse”
- the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber“they demonstrated the transmission of impulses from the cortex to the hypothalamus”
Where does impulse come from?
Borrowed from Middle French impulser, from Latin impulsus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying impulse
How do you pronounce impulse?
Say IM-puls. The American pronunciation is /ˈɪmpəls/. In British English it is /ˈɪmpʌls/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in impulse?
Impulse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (IM). Broken into parts: IM · puls.
Do Americans and Brits say impulse the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɪmpəls/ and the British form is /ˈɪmpʌls/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.