How to pronounce cruel
cruel
/ˈkruːəl/
2 syllables, stress on the first
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There is a second pronunciation: /kruːl/.
Cruel, sound by sound
| /k/as in cat | With a light puff of air at the start of a word. |
| /r/as in red | The tongue curls back and touches nothing. No tap, no trill. |
| /uː/as in food | A long “oo” with rounded lips. |
| /ə/as in cup | A short, relaxed “uh”; the mouth is barely open. |
| /l/as in look | Tongue tip on the ridge behind the teeth; air flows around the sides. |
In a sentence
Can a child do such a cruel thing?
More words with the /r/ sound
- qatar/kʌˈtɑːr/
- jorge/ˈhɔːrheɪ/
- curacao/ˈkjʊrəsaʊ/
- genre/ˈʒɑːnrə/
- versailles/verˈsaɪ/
- khmer/kmer/
- uranus/ˈjuːrənəs/
- february/ˈfebjəweri/
- kyrgyzstan/ˈkɪrgɪstæn/
- route/ruːt/
Questions and answers
How do you pronounce cruel?
Cruel is pronounced /ˈkruːəl/ in American English. A second pronunciation, /kruːl/, is also used.
How many syllables are in cruel?
Cruel has 2 syllables.
Which syllable is stressed in cruel?
The first syllable: /ˈkruːəl/.