How to pronounce laurel
Say it like LOR-ul. Laurel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce laurel. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOR
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Laurel pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of laurel
American and British speakers say laurel in essentially the same way: /ˈlɔrəl/ in the US and /ˈlɒrəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: LOR-ul.
What does laurel mean?
- any of various aromatic trees of the laurel family
- United States slapstick comedian (born in England) who played the scatterbrained and often tearful member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1890-1965)
- (antiquity) a wreath of laurel foliage worn on the head as an emblem of victory
Where does laurel come from?
Inherited from Middle English laurer, laurel, from Anglo-Norman lorer, from Old French lorier, from Vulgar Latin *laurārius, from Latin laurus (“laurel”).
Words that rhyme with laurel
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of laurel.
Questions about saying laurel
How do you pronounce laurel?
Say LOR-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɔrəl/. In British English it is /ˈlɒrəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in laurel?
Laurel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOR). Broken into parts: LOR · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say laurel the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɔrəl/ and the British form is /ˈlɒrəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.