How to Pronounce Riddle

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

riddle

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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2

Syllables

6

Letters

/ˈɹɪdəl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “riddle”

"riddle" has 2 syllables: riddl-e. It rhymes with twiddle and fiddle, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: riddell, rydell — easy to mix up when writing.

What does riddle mean?

noun

  1. A verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.

    “Here's a riddle: It's black, and white, and red all over. What is it?”

  2. An ancient verbal, poetic, or literary form, in which, rather than a rhyme scheme, there are parallel opposing expressions with a hidden meaning.

verb

  1. To speak ambiguously or enigmatically.
  2. To solve, answer, or explicate a riddle or question.

    “Riddle me this.”

Synonyms

brain-teaserconundrumenigma

Hear “riddle” 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 riddle

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

twiddlefiddlepiddlemiddlesiddlewiddleliddlebiddlecriddle

Related words

brain-teaserconundrumenigmascreenpuzzlemysterysecretguess

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "riddle"?▾

"Riddle" has 2 syllables: riddl · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "riddle"?▾

The IPA transcription of "riddle" is /ˈɹɪdəl/.

What does "riddle" mean?▾

Riddle: A verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.

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