How to pronounce narwhal
Say it like NAR-wul. Narwhal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce narwhal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NAR
- wul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Narwhal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- wulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of narwhal
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: NAH-wul.
What does narwhal mean?
- An Arctic toothed whale (Monodon monoceros) that grows to about 20 feet (6 meters) long, the male having a single horn-like tusk, a twisted, pointed cuspid that projects forward.
Where does narwhal come from?
From Dutch narwal or Danish/Norwegian Bokmål narhval, from Old Norse náhvalr, from nár (“corpse”) + hvalr (“whale”).
Questions about saying narwhal
How do you pronounce narwhal?
Say NAR-wul. The American pronunciation is /ˈnɑrwəl/. In British English it is /ˈnɑːwəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in narwhal?
Narwhal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NAR). Broken into parts: NAR · wul.
Is narwhal 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 /ˈnɑːwəl/ (NAH-wul).