How to Pronounce Curl

To pronounce "curl", say CURL — one syllable, IPA /kəːl/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

curl

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/kəːl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “curl”

"curl" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with hurl and whirl, if that helps it stick.

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

What does curl mean?

noun

  1. A piece or lock of curling hair; a ringlet.
  2. A curved stroke or shape.

verb

  1. To cause to move in a curve.
  2. To make into a curl or spiral.

Synonyms

curlicuecurveflourishloopspiralringletcoilroll uparch

Antonyms

extensionstraightenuncoilunroll

Hear “curl” 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 curl

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

hurlwhirlpearlgirlwhorltwirlburlswirlearlunfurlcowgirlshirl

Related words

ringletloopcurlicuewhorlcoilwavegyrecurve

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "curl"?▾

"Curl" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "curl"?▾

The IPA transcription of "curl" is /kəːl/.

What does "curl" mean?▾

Curl: A piece or lock of curling hair; a ringlet.

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