How to Pronounce “kneel”
Free audio in American, British, and Australian English.
▶ Hear it pronouncedIPA Transcription
- American (US)
- /niːl/
- British (UK)
- /niːl/
What “kneel” means
verb — To rest on one's bent knees, sometimes only one; to move to such a position.
Pronunciation Notes
The k is silent. Every English word beginning kn- lost the /k/ centuries ago but kept it in the spelling. “kneel” starts on a plain /n/ sound, exactly as if the k were not written.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "kneel" mean?
kneel (verb): To rest on one's bent knees, sometimes only one; to move to such a position.
How do you pronounce "kneel" in American vs British English?
Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "kneel", /niːl/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.
What is the IPA transcription of "kneel"?
/niːl/ in American English, /niːl/ in British English.
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