How to Pronounce Parallel

To pronounce "parallel", say PAR-all-el — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈpɛɹəˌɫɛɫ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

parallel

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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3

Syllables

8

Letters

/ˈpɛɹəˌɫɛɫ/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/pˈæɹəlˌɛl/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “parallel”

Break "parallel" into 3 beats and lean on "PAR" — that's the stressed one.

What does parallel mean?

adjective

  1. Equally distant from one another at all points.
  2. Having the same overall direction; the comparison is indicated with "to".

adverb

  1. With a parallel relationship.

noun

  1. One of a set of parallel lines.
  2. Direction conformable to that of another line.

Keep practicing

Related pages on PronounceIt, chosen from what we know about this word.

Train the contrast: light vs right

Sounds worth drilling for a word spelled like this:

/r/ — r/l/ — l/ə/ — schwa

Read next: Why English Spelling Doesn’t Match Its Pronunciation

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "parallel"?▾

To pronounce "parallel", say PAR-all-el — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈpɛɹəˌɫɛɫ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

How many syllables are in "parallel"?▾

"Parallel" has 3 syllables: par · all · el.

What is the IPA transcription of "parallel"?▾

The IPA transcription of "parallel" is /ˈpɛɹəˌɫɛɫ/.

What does "parallel" mean?▾

Parallel: Equally distant from one another at all points.

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