How to pronounce startle
Say it like STAR-tul. Startle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce startle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STAR
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Startle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of startle
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: STAH-tul.
What does startle mean?
- To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.“a horse that startles easily”
- To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise.
- A sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger.
Where does startle come from?
From Middle English startlen, stertlen, stertyllen (“to rush, stumble along”), from Old English steartlian (“to kick with the foot, struggle, stumble”), equivalent to start + -le.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying startle
How do you pronounce startle?
Say STAR-tul. The American pronunciation is /ˈstɑrtəl/. In British English it is /ˈstɑːtəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in startle?
Startle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STAR). Broken into parts: STAR · tul.
Is startle pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈstɑːtəl/ (STAH-tul).