How to pronounce tangle
Say it like TANG-gul. Tangle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TANG).
- TANG
- gul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tangle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TANGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- gulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tangle
American and British speakers say tangle in essentially the same way: /ˈtæŋɡəl/ in the US and /ˈtæŋɡəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: TANG-gul.
What does tangle mean?
- A tangled twisted mass.
- A complicated or confused state or condition.“I tried to sort through this tangle and got nowhere.”
- An argument, conflict, dispute, or fight.
- Any large type of seaweed, especially a species of Laminaria.
- An instrument consisting essentially of an iron bar to which are attached swabs, or bundles of frayed rope, or other similar substances, used to capture starfishes, sea urchins, and other similar creatures living at the bottom of the sea.
- Any long hanging thing, even a lanky person.
- To mix together or intertwine.
- To become mixed together or intertwined.“Her hair was tangled from a day in the wind.”
- To enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight.“Don't tangle with someone three times your size.”
Where does tangle come from?
From Middle English tanglen, probably of North Germanic origin, compare Swedish taggla (“to disorder”), Old Norse þǫngull, þang (“tangle; seaweed”), see Etymology 2 below.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with tangle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tangle.
Questions about saying tangle
How do you pronounce tangle?
Say TANG-gul. The American pronunciation is /ˈtæŋɡəl/. In British English it is /ˈtæŋɡəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tangle?
Tangle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TANG). Broken into parts: TANG · gul.
Do Americans and Brits say tangle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtæŋɡəl/ and the British form is /ˈtæŋɡəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.