How to pronounce kneel
Say it like NEEL. Kneel is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kneel. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NEEL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kneel pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NEELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of kneel
American and British speakers say kneel in essentially the same way: /nil/ in the US and /niːl/ in the UK.
British respelling: NEEL.
What does kneel mean?
- To rest on one's bent knees, sometimes only one; to move to such a position.
- To sink down so that the entrance is level with the pavement, making it easier for passengers to enter.
- To cause to kneel.“She knelt the doll to fit it into the box.”
Where does kneel come from?
From Middle English knelen, from Old English cnēowlian (“to kneel”), equivalent to knee + -le.
Words that rhyme with kneel
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kneel.
Questions about saying kneel
How do you pronounce kneel?
Say NEEL. The American pronunciation is /nil/. In British English it is /niːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kneel?
Kneel is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NEEL.
Do Americans and Brits say kneel the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /nil/ and the British form is /niːl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.