How to pronounce yell
Say it like YEL. Yell 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 yell. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YEL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Yell pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of yell
American and British speakers say yell in essentially the same way: /jɛl/ in the US and /jɛl/ in the UK.
British respelling: YEL.
What does yell mean?
- utter a sudden loud cry“she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle”“I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me”
- utter or declare in a very loud voice“You don't have to yell--I can hear you just fine”
- a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition“the speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience”
- a loud utterance of emotion (especially when inarticulate)“a cry of rage”“a yell of pain”
Where does yell come from?
From Middle English ȝellen, yellen, from Old English ġiellan, from Proto-Germanic *gellaną.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with yell
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of yell.
Questions about saying yell
How do you pronounce yell?
Say YEL. The American pronunciation is /jɛl/. In British English it is /jɛl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in yell?
Yell is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: YEL.
Do Americans and Brits say yell the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /jɛl/ and the British form is /jɛl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.