How to pronounce squeal
Say it like SKWEEL. Squeal 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 squeal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKWEEL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Squeal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKWEELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of squeal
American and British speakers say squeal in essentially the same way: /skwil/ in the US and /skwiːl/ in the UK.
British respelling: SKWEEL.
What does squeal mean?
- A high-pitched sound, such as the scream of a child or a female person, or noisy worn-down brake pads.
- The cry of a pig.
- To scream with a shrill, prolonged sound.“The children squealed with delight while opening their Christmas presents.”
- To make a squealing noise. (of an object)“The brakes squeal terribly.”
- To give sensitive information about someone to a third party; to rat on someone.“You'd better not squeal on me to the cops.”
Where does squeal come from?
Inherited from Middle English squelen, probably from Old Norse skvala (“to squeal, bawl”), from Proto-Germanic *skwel- (“to chatter, babble, scream”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *skel-, from *kelh₁- (“to ring, resound, cry”).
Words that rhyme with squeal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of squeal.
Questions about saying squeal
How do you pronounce squeal?
Say SKWEEL. The American pronunciation is /skwil/. In British English it is /skwiːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in squeal?
Squeal is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SKWEEL.
Do Americans and Brits say squeal the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /skwil/ and the British form is /skwiːl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.