How to pronounce shovel
Say it like SHUHV-ul. Shovel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHUHV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce shovel. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHUHV
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shovel pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHUHVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of shovel
American and British speakers say shovel in essentially the same way: /ˈʃʌvəl/ in the US and /ˈʃʌvəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: SHUHV-ul.
What does shovel mean?
- a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle
- the quantity a shovel can hold
- a fire iron consisting of a small shovel used to scoop coals or ashes in a fireplace
- dig with or as if with a shovel“shovel sand”“he shovelled in the backyard all afternoon long”
Questions about saying shovel
How do you pronounce shovel?
Say SHUHV-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃʌvəl/. In British English it is /ˈʃʌvəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shovel?
Shovel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHUHV). Broken into parts: SHUHV · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say shovel the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈʃʌvəl/ and the British form is /ˈʃʌvəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.