How to pronounce pulse
Say it like PUHLS. Pulse 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 pulse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PUHLS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pulse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PUHLSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of pulse
American and British speakers say pulse in essentially the same way: /pʌls/ in the US and /pʌls/ in the UK.
British respelling: PUHLS.
What does pulse mean?
- (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)“the pulsations seemed to be coming from a star”
- the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart“he could feel the beat of her heart”
- the rate at which the heart beats; usually measured to obtain a quick evaluation of a person's health
- expand and contract rhythmically; beat rhythmically“The baby's heart was pulsating again after the surgeon massaged it”
- produce or modulate (as electromagnetic waves) in the form of short bursts or pulses or cause an apparatus to produce pulses“pulse waves”“a transmitter pulsed by an electronic tube”
- drive by or as if by pulsation“A soft breeze pulsed the air”
Where does pulse come from?
From Late Middle English pulse, Middle English pous, pouse (“regular beat of arteries, pulse; heartbeat; place on the body where a pulse is detectable; beat (of a musical instrument); energy, vitality”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying pulse
How do you pronounce pulse?
Say PUHLS. The American pronunciation is /pʌls/. In British English it is /pʌls/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pulse?
Pulse is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PUHLS.
Do Americans and Brits say pulse the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pʌls/ and the British form is /pʌls/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.