How to pronounce wool
Say it like WUUL. Wool 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 wool. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WUUL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wool pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WUULSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
American vs British pronunciation of wool
American and British speakers say wool in essentially the same way: /wʊl/ in the US and /wʊl/ in the UK.
British respelling: WUUL.
What does wool mean?
- a fabric made from the hair of sheep
- fiber sheared from animals (such as sheep) and twisted into yarn for weaving
- outer coat of especially sheep and yaks
Where does wool come from?
The vowel development u → o → oo is purely graphical.
Words that rhyme with wool
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wool.
Questions about saying wool
How do you pronounce wool?
Say WUUL. The American pronunciation is /wʊl/. In British English it is /wʊl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wool?
Wool is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WUUL.
Do Americans and Brits say wool the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /wʊl/ and the British form is /wʊl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.