How to pronounce reel
Say it like REEL. Reel 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 reel. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- REEL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Reel pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- REELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of reel
American and British speakers say reel in essentially the same way: /ril/ in the US and /riːl/ in the UK.
British respelling: REEL.
What does reel mean?
- a roll of photographic film holding a series of frames to be projected by a movie projector
- music composed for dancing a reel
- winder consisting of a revolving spool with a handle; attached to a fishing rod
- walk as if unable to control one's movements“The drunken man staggered into the room”
- revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis“The dervishes whirl around and around without getting dizzy”
- wind onto or off a reel
Where does reel come from?
From Middle English reel, reele, from Old English rēol, hrēol, from Proto-West Germanic *hrehul, from Proto-Germanic *hrehulaz, *hrahilaz, from Proto-Indo-European *krek- (“to weave, beat”).
Words that rhyme with reel
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of reel.
Words that sound like reel
Questions about saying reel
How do you pronounce reel?
Say REEL. The American pronunciation is /ril/. In British English it is /riːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in reel?
Reel is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: REEL.
Do Americans and Brits say reel the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ril/ and the British form is /riːl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as reel?
Reel sounds the same as real in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.