How to pronounce thirl
Say it like THURL. Thirl 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 thirl. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- THURL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Thirl pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THURLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of thirl
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: THURL.
What does thirl mean?
- A hole, an aperture, especially a nostril.
- To pierce; to perforate, penetrate, cut through.
- To bind; to obligate to use or be associated with.
Where does thirl come from?
From Middle English thirl, thiril, from Old English þyrel (“hole”), from Proto-West Germanic *þurhil, from Proto-Germanic *þurhilą (“hole, opening”), from Proto-Indo-European *tr̥h₂kʷelo- which is *tr̥h₂kʷe + *-lo, from *terh₂-.
Words that rhyme with thirl
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of thirl.
Questions about saying thirl
How do you pronounce thirl?
Say THURL. The American pronunciation is /θɝl/. In British English it is /θɜːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thirl?
Thirl is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: THURL.
Is thirl 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 /θɜːl/ (THURL).