How to Pronounce “knuckle”

American (US)

/ˈnʌkəl/

British (UK)

/ˈnʌkəl/

noun — Any of the joints between the bones of the fingers.

The k is silent. Every English word beginning kn- lost the /k/ centuries ago but kept it in the spelling. “knuckle” starts on a plain /n/ sound, exactly as if the k were not written.

The final e is silent. The transcription /ˈnʌkəl/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “knuckle” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “knuckle” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈnʌkəl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈnʌkəl/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "knuckle" mean?

knuckle (noun): Any of the joints between the bones of the fingers.

How do you pronounce "knuckle" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "knuckle", /ˈnʌkəl/, 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 "knuckle"?

/ˈnʌkəl/ in American English, /ˈnʌkəl/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "knuckle"?

“knuckle” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈnʌkəl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

• Silent K words