How to Pronounce Turtle

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

turtle

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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2

Syllables

6

Letters

/ˈtɜːtəl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “turtle”

"turtle" has 2 syllables: turtl-e. It rhymes with hurtle and curtal, if that helps it stick.

What does turtle mean?

noun

  1. Any land or marine reptile of the order Testudines, characterised by a protective shell enclosing its body. See also tortoise.
  2. (specifically) A marine reptile of that order.

verb

  1. To flip over onto the back or top; to turn upside down.
  2. To turn and swim upside down.

Synonyms

sea turtleshellpadshield-toadtestudo

Hear “turtle” 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 turtle

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

hurtlecurtalinfertilemyrtlebertilbirtle

Related words

tortoisehawksbillleatherbackridleyswordfishdovepetspotted

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "turtle"?▾

"Turtle" has 2 syllables: turtl · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "turtle"?▾

The IPA transcription of "turtle" is /ˈtɜːtəl/.

What does "turtle" mean?▾

Turtle: Any land or marine reptile of the order Testudines, characterised by a protective shell enclosing its body. See also tortoise.

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