How to Pronounce Shell

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

shell

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

/ʃɛl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “shell”

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

What does shell mean?

noun

  1. A hard external covering of an animal.
  2. The hard calcareous covering of a bird egg.

verb

  1. To remove the outer covering or shell of something.
  2. To bombard, to fire projectiles at, especially with artillery.

Synonyms

shell-like

Hear “shell” 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 shell

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

compelpropelimpelquellcitadelravelswelltelldwellcellexpelparallel

Related words

carapacepodeggshellplateblastcasingscalestrafe

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "shell"?▾

"Shell" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "shell"?▾

The IPA transcription of "shell" is /ʃɛl/.

What does "shell" mean?▾

Shell: A hard external covering of an animal.

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