How to pronounce kirtle
Say it like KER-tul. Kirtle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kirtle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KER
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kirtle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of kirtle
- 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: KUH-tul.
What does kirtle mean?
- A knee-length tunic.
- A short jacket.
- A woman's gown; a woman's outer petticoat or skirt.
- To clothe or cover with, or as if with, a kirtle; to hitch up (a long garment) to the length of a kirtle.
Where does kirtle come from?
From Middle English kirtel, from Old English cyrtel, cognate with Old Norse kyrtill (“tunic”) (whence Icelandic kyrtill, Danish kjortel (“gown, tunic”), Swedish kjortel (“petticoat, skirt”)), from Old Norse *kurtil-, supposedly a diminutive
Questions about saying kirtle
How do you pronounce kirtle?
Say KER-tul. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɚtəl/. In British English it is /ˈkətəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kirtle?
Kirtle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KER). Broken into parts: KER · tul.
Is kirtle 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 /ˈkətəl/ (KUH-tul).