How to Pronounce Bustle

To pronounce "bustle", say BUSTL-e — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈbʌsəl/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

bustle

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/ˈbʌsəl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “bustle”

"bustle" has 2 syllables: bustl-e. It rhymes with rustle and hustle, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: bussell — easy to mix up when writing.

What does bustle mean?

noun

An excited activity; a stir.
A cover to protect and hide the back panel of a computer or other office machine.

verb

To move busily and energetically with fussiness (often followed by about).
“The commuters bustled about inside the train station.”
To teem or abound (usually followed by with); to exhibit an energetic and active abundance (of a thing).
“The train station was bustling with commuters.”

Synonyms

abound brim bristle burst crawl swell teem flit

Hear “bustle” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with bustle

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

rustle hustle tussle justle friskful muscle scissel bussell brustle scissile nustle

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "bustle"?▾

"Bustle" has 2 syllables: bustl · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "bustle"?▾

The IPA transcription of "bustle" is /ˈbʌsəl/.

What does "bustle" mean?▾

Bustle: An excited activity; a stir.

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