One syllable: Boule.
bool
/bul/
Boule is pronounced bool (/bul/). It has one syllable (Boule), with the stress on "Boule". Boule is a French-origin noun short for 'boule de neige' or 'boule' meaning a heavy, often glass or metal sphere used in games or as a decorative globe. In English contexts it refers to a marble-like ball used in games such as pétanque or petanque. The term is borrowed from French and typically retains a French pronunciation in English discourse.
nounBoule is a French-origin noun short for 'boule de neige' or 'boule' meaning a heavy, often glass or metal sphere used in games or as a decorative globe. In English contexts it refers to a marble-like ball used in games such as pétanque or petanque. The term is borrowed from French and typically retains a French pronunciation in English discourse.
"In the courtyard, players rolled the boule toward the small target ball."
"She polished the antique boule on the shelf until it gleamed."
"They gathered for a game of pétanque, each player tossing the boule with measured care."
/buˈleɪ/ in US/UK/AU. The stress falls on the second syllable. Start with the gentle 'boo' sound as in 'boo,' then a clear 'lay' with the mouth open at the vowel and the final /eɪ/. It’s essentially French-influenced: bou-le with the final output close to ‘lay.’ Audio resources like Pronounce and Forvo can give native examples; aim for a smooth two-syllable transition without a heavy final consonant. IPA reference: /buˈleɪ/.
Common errors include pronouncing it as a single syllable (boo-l) or finishing with a hard English /l/ instead of a clear diphthong at the end. Another frequent mistake is stressing the first syllable (/ˈbuːl/). Correction: target /buˈleɪ/, with a light, secondary emphasis on the second syllable and a smooth /eɪ/ glide at the end. Practice by isolating the vowels: /u/ then /eɪ/ while keeping the jaw relaxed and the lips rounded for /u/ and spreading slightly for /eɪ/.
In US/UK/AU, you’ll hear /buˈleɪ/. US speakers may slightly lengthen the /u/ and the /eɪ/ gliding, UK speakers may produce a crisper /eɪ/ with less vowel reduction, and Australian speakers often have a more centralized or clipped /u/ before the /ˈleɪ/. The main accent feature is the stable /leɪ/ ending; rhoticity does not alter the final /eɪ/.
The challenge lies in blending a French-styled final /eɪ/ diphthong with an unstressed preceding syllable and avoiding an overuced /l/ at the end. Many English speakers default to /buːl/ or misplace stress on the first syllable. Mastery requires a clean /u/ escape from the lips, then a precise /leɪ/ with a clear glide. Focusing on the transition /u/ to /eɪ/ helps prevent a clipped, monophthongal end.
Yes, the final /eɪ/ is a defining feature; many non-French speakers produce a shorter, closed vowel or even drop it. The two-syllable rhythm and the syllable boundary between /bu/ and /leɪ/ matter for natural speech: /bu/ should be rounded and tense, then /leɪ/ begins with a lighter mouth position and a smooth, long glide. Practicing with a French-influenced enunciation helps you maintain the proper two-syllable tempo.
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Boule comes from the French word boule, meaning 'ball' or 'sphere.' The root is the Latin bulla ‘bubble’ or Greek boule meaning ‘ball, globe,’ though the exact lineage in lexicography often points to the French noun boule formed as a diminutive or general term for a rounded object. In English, boule entered specialized usage primarily via the sport pétanque and related cue sports, retaining a French phonology and spelling. First attested in English contexts during the 19th or early 20th century, boule gained prominence with the diffusion of boules culture in France and in French-speaking communities abroad. Over time, the term broadened in recreational contexts to include any rounded playing ball used in boules or petanque-like activities, though many English speakers still pair boule with pétanque terminology, using it to refer to the boule in that game or similar metal/glass spheres used in outdoor play.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Boule" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Boule"
-ole sounds
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