Learn How to Pronounce dull

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How to pronounce:
dull
Phonetic Transcription:
dʌl
Examples:
The movie was boring and dull.
The dull performance bored the whole audience.
Adore the tiny, the insignificant, the dull, the ugly and the boring.

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Common mistakes of dull pronunciation

- Dropping the "d": Many learners omit the initial "d" sound, pronouncing it as "ull". This changes the word's meaning. Tip: Focus on the "d" sound, pronounced as /d/ in both US and UK English.
- Misplacing the vowel sound: Some pronounce the "u" in "dull" as a long vowel, saying "dool". This is incorrect. Tip: Remember that the "u" is a short vowel sound, represented as /ʌ/ in IPA.
- Overemphasizing the "l": A common mistake is to stress the "l" too much, making it sound like "dull-l". This can make the word unclear. Tip: Keep the "l" soft and blend it smoothly with the preceding vowel sound.
- Confusing with "doll": Some people mix up "dull" with "doll", leading to mispronunciation. While "doll" has a short "o" sound /dɒl/ in UK and /dɑl/ in US, "dull" has the short "u" sound. Tip: Practice distinguishing between /ʌ/ and /ɒ/ or /ɑ/.
- Incorrect stress placement: A few learners may incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "du-ll". "Dull" is a one-syllable word, so the stress is on the "d". Tip: Always pronounce "dull" with the stress on the initial sound /dʌl/.