How to pronounce trouble
Say it like TRUHB-ul. Trouble has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TRUHB).
- TRUHB
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Trouble pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TRUHBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of trouble
American and British speakers say trouble in essentially the same way: /ˈtrʌbəl/ in the US and /ˈtrʌbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: TRUHB-ul.
What does trouble mean?
- A distressing or dangerous situation.“He was in trouble when the rain started.”
- A difficulty, problem, condition, or action contributing to such a situation.“The trouble was a leaking brake line.”
- A person liable to place others or themselves in such a situation.
- To mentally distress; to cause (someone) to be anxious or perplexed.“What she said about narcissism is troubling me.”
- In weaker sense: to bother or inconvenience.“I will not trouble you to deliver the letter.”
- To physically afflict.“My bad knee is troubling me.”
Where does trouble come from?
Verb is from Middle English troublen, trouble, borrowed from Old French troubler, trobler, trubler, metathetic variants of tourbler, torbler, turbler, from Vulgar Latin *turbulō, from Latin turbula (“disorderly group, a little crowd or peop
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with trouble
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of trouble.
Questions about saying trouble
How do you pronounce trouble?
Say TRUHB-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈtrʌbəl/. In British English it is /ˈtrʌbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in trouble?
Trouble has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TRUHB). Broken into parts: TRUHB · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say trouble the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtrʌbəl/ and the British form is /ˈtrʌbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.