How to pronounce soul
Say it like SOHL. Soul 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 soul. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOHL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Soul 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 soul
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SOHL.
What does soul mean?
- the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
- a human being“there was too much for one person to do”
- deep feeling or emotion
Where does soul come from?
Cognate with Scots saul, sowel (“soul”), Saterland Frisian Seele (“soul”), West Frisian siel (“soul”), Alemannic German Seel (“soul”), Central Franconian Siel (“soul”), Dutch ziel (“soul”), German Seele (“soul”), German Low German Seel (“so
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with soul
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of soul.
Words that sound like soul
Questions about saying soul
How do you pronounce soul?
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 soul?
Soul is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SOHL.
Is soul 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 soul?
Soul sounds the same as sole, sol in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.