How to pronounce steeple
Say it like STEE-pul. Steeple has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce steeple. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STEE
- pul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Steeple pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- pulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of steeple
American and British speakers say steeple in essentially the same way: /ˈstipəl/ in the US and /ˈstiːpəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: STEE-pul.
What does steeple mean?
- A tall tower, often on a church, normally topped with a spire.
- A spire.
- To form something into the shape of a steeple.“He steepled his fingers as he considered the question.”
Where does steeple come from?
From Middle English stepel, from Old English stīpel, stȳpel, stīepel (“tower, steeple”), from Proto-West Germanic *staupil, from Proto-Germanic *staupilaz (“that which is steep, tower, steeple”), equivalent to steep + -le.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with steeple
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of steeple.
Questions about saying steeple
How do you pronounce steeple?
Say STEE-pul. The American pronunciation is /ˈstipəl/. In British English it is /ˈstiːpəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in steeple?
Steeple has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STEE). Broken into parts: STEE · pul.
Do Americans and Brits say steeple the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈstipəl/ and the British form is /ˈstiːpəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.