How to pronounce knuckle
Say it like NUHK-ul. Knuckle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NUHK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce knuckle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NUHK
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Knuckle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NUHKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of knuckle
American and British speakers say knuckle in essentially the same way: /ˈnʌkəl/ in the US and /ˈnʌkəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: NUHK-ul.
What does knuckle mean?
- Any of the joints between the bones of the fingers.
- A mechanical joint.
- The curved part of the cushion at the entrance to the pockets on a cue sports table.
- To apply pressure, or rub or massage with one's knuckles (noun sense 1).“He knuckled the sleep from his eyes.”
- To strike or punch.
- To bend the fingers.
Where does knuckle come from?
From Middle English knokel (“finger joint”), from Old English cnucel (“the juncture of two bones; knuckle; joint”), from Proto-West Germanic *knukil, from Proto-Germanic *knukilaz (“knuckle, knot, bump”), as *knukô (“bone, joint”) + *-ilaz (diminutive suffix).
Words that rhyme with knuckle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of knuckle.
Questions about saying knuckle
How do you pronounce knuckle?
Say NUHK-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈnʌkəl/. In British English it is /ˈnʌkəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in knuckle?
Knuckle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NUHK). Broken into parts: NUHK · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say knuckle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈnʌkəl/ and the British form is /ˈnʌkəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.