How to pronounce swirl
Say it like SWURL. Swirl 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 swirl. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SWURL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Swirl pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SWURLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of swirl
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SWURL.
What does swirl mean?
- To twist or whirl, as an eddy.“I swirled my brush around in the paint.”
- To be arranged in a twist, spiral or whorl.
- To circulate.
- A whirling eddy.
- A twist or coil of something.
- The upward rushing of a fish through the water to take the bait.
Where does swirl come from?
From Middle English swirlen (“to eddy, swirl”), probably from Old Norse *svirla (“to swirl”), a frequentative form of Old Norse sverra (“to swing, twirl”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with swirl
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of swirl.
Questions about saying swirl
How do you pronounce swirl?
Say SWURL. The American pronunciation is /swɝl/. In British English it is /swɜːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in swirl?
Swirl is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SWURL.
Is swirl 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 /swɜːl/ (SWURL).