How to pronounce thistle
Say it like THIS-ul. Thistle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce thistle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- THIS
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Thistle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of thistle
American and British speakers say thistle in essentially the same way: /ˈθɪsəl/ in the US and /ˈθɪsəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: THIS-ul.
What does thistle mean?
- Any of several perennial composite plants, especially of genera Cirsium, Carduus, Cynara, or Onopordum, having prickly leaves and showy flower heads with prickly bracts.
- This plant seen as the national emblem of Scotland.
- An image of this plant used as a charge.
Where does thistle come from?
Cognates include Scots thrissel, German Distel, Dutch distel, and Old Norse and Icelandic þistill.
Words that rhyme with thistle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of thistle.
Questions about saying thistle
How do you pronounce thistle?
Say THIS-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈθɪsəl/. In British English it is /ˈθɪsəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thistle?
Thistle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THIS). Broken into parts: THIS · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say thistle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈθɪsəl/ and the British form is /ˈθɪsəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.