How to pronounce whittle
Say it like WIT-ul. Whittle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce whittle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WIT
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Whittle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WITSay 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 whittle
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: WIT-ul.
What does whittle mean?
- A knife; especially, a clasp-knife, pocket knife, or sheath knife.
- To cut or shape wood with a knife.
- To reduce or gradually eliminate something (such as a debt).
- To make eager or excited; to excite with liquor; to inebriate.
Where does whittle come from?
From Middle English whittel (“large knife”), an alteration of thwitel, itself from thwiten (“to whittle”), from Old English þwītan (“to strike down, whittle”), from Proto-Germanic *þwītaną, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *twey- (“to shake, hurl, toss”).
Words that rhyme with whittle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of whittle.
Questions about saying whittle
How do you pronounce whittle?
Say WIT-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɪtəl/. In British English it is /ˈwɪtəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in whittle?
Whittle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIT). Broken into parts: WIT · ul.
Is whittle pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈwɪtəl/ (WIT-ul).