Learn How to Pronounce dull

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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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dull

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How to perfect your pronunciation of: dull

Learn Individual Sounds

Break dull down into individual sounds such as dʌl. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.

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Common mistakes of dull pronunciation

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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/.
  5. 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/.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "dull" in American English?

In American English, "dull" is pronounced as /dʌl/ with a single syllable. The vowel sound is a short "u" as in "cup," and there is no stress on any particular syllable since it has only one.

What is the British pronunciation of "dull"?

In British English, "dull" is also pronounced as /dʌl/, similar to the American pronunciation. The vowel sound remains the same, and it is pronounced with one syllable.

Does "dull" have any silent letters?

No, the word "dull" does not contain any silent letters. Each letter is pronounced, making it straightforward to say.

Are there any common mistakes when pronouncing "dull"?

One common mistake is mispronouncing "dull" with a long vowel sound, like /duːl/. Remember to use the short "u" sound, as in "cup," to pronounce "dull" correctly.
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