How to pronounce sole
Say it like SOHL. Sole 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 sole. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOHL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sole pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SOHLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of sole
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SOHL.
What does sole mean?
- the underside of footwear or a golf club
- lean flesh of any of several flatfish
- the underside of the foot
- not divided or shared with others“they have exclusive use of the machine”“sole rights of publication”
- being the only one; single and isolated from others“the lone doctor in the entire county”“a lonesome pine”
- put a new sole on“sole the shoes”
Where does sole come from?
From Middle English sole, soule, from Old French sol, soul (“alone”), from Latin sōlus (“alone, single, solitary, lonely”).
Words that rhyme with sole
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sole.
Words that sound like sole
Questions about saying sole
How do you pronounce sole?
Say SOHL. The American pronunciation is /soʊl/. In British English it is /səʊl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sole?
Sole is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SOHL.
Is sole pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /səʊl/ (SOHL).
What words sound the same as sole?
Sole sounds the same as soul, sol in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.