How to pronounce purl
Say it like PURL. Purl 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 purl. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PURL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Purl pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PURLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of purl
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PURL.
What does purl mean?
- A particular stitch in knitting in which the working yarn is pulled through an existing stitch from front to back.
- The edge of lace trimmed with loops.
- An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a band.
- To decorate with fringe or embroidered edge“Needlework purled with gold.”
- To use or create a purl stitch or stitches.“Knit one, purl two.”
- a heavy or headlong fall; an upset.
Where does purl come from?
Unknown; apparently related to Scots and dialect pirl (“twist, ripple, whirl, spin”), and possibly to Older Scots pyrl ("thrust or poke at").
Words that rhyme with purl
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of purl.
Words that sound like purl
Questions about saying purl
How do you pronounce purl?
Say PURL. The American pronunciation is /pɝl/. In British English it is /pɜːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in purl?
Purl is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PURL.
Is purl 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 /pɜːl/ (PURL).
What words sound the same as purl?
Purl sounds the same as pearl in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.