How to Pronounce Needle

To pronounce "needle", say NEEDL-e — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈniː.dl/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

needle

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Accent

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Speed

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2

Syllables

6

Letters

/ˈniː.dl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “needle

"needle" has 2 syllables: needl-e. It rhymes with wheedle and tweedle, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: nedel, neidl — easy to mix up when writing.

What does needle mean?

noun

  1. A fine, sharp implement usually for piercing such as sewing, or knitting, acupuncture, tattooing, body piercing, medical injections, etc.

    The seamstress threaded the needle to sew on a button.

  2. Any slender, pointed object resembling a needle, such as a pointed crystal, a sharp pinnacle of rock, an obelisk, etc.

verb

  1. To pierce with a needle, especially for sewing or acupuncture.
  2. To tease in order to provoke; to poke fun at.

    Billy needled his sister incessantly about her pimples.

Synonyms

Hear “needle” 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 needle

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

Related words

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "needle"?

"Needle" has 2 syllables: needl · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "needle"?

The IPA transcription of "needle" is /ˈniː.dl/.

What does "needle" mean?

Needle: A fine, sharp implement usually for piercing such as sewing, or knitting, acupuncture, tattooing, body piercing, medical injections, etc.

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