2 syllables: Dar, yl. Stress on Dar.
DER-uhl
/ˈdɛɹəl/
Daryl is pronounced DER-uhl (/ˈdɛɹəl/). It has two syllables (Dar-yl), with the stress on "Dar". Daryl is a proper noun used as a given name. It typically references a masculine or gender-neutral personal name and may appear in various cultural contexts. The pronunciation can vary regionally, but generally stresses the first syllable and uses a rounded vowel followed by a clear final consonant, with subtle differences between American, British, and Australian accents.
nounDaryl is a proper noun used as a given name. It typically references a masculine or gender-neutral personal name and may appear in various cultural contexts. The pronunciation can vary regionally, but generally stresses the first syllable and uses a rounded vowel followed by a clear final consonant, with subtle differences between American, British, and Australian accents.
"I met a guy named Daryl at the conference."
"Daryl spelled his name clearly so there wouldn't be confusion."
"In the movie, the character Daryl is known for his quick wit."
Daryl is pronounced with two syllables: DAH-ruhl in US and AU, with the first syllable stressed. The standard IPA is US /ˈdærəl/ and UK /ˈdærɪl/ where the second vowel is shorter or reduced to a short i. Begin with a low-front open /dæ/ followed by a relaxed /r/ or tapped /ɹ/ and finish with a clear /əl/ or /l/. Listen for a light, non-syllabic ending consonant. Audio example: approximate articulation by saying “DAH-ruhl,” ending with a soft air release before the final L.
Common mistakes include saying /ˈdeɚl/ with a long /e/ as in ‘dare’ and omitting the second syllable vowel, giving /ˈdarl/ or /ˈderl/. Another is over-articulating the second vowel as /ɪ/ or /iː/ making it sound like ‘Daryle.’ Correct by using /ˈdærəl/ in US and /ˈdærɪl/ in UK; keep the second vowel brief and merge it softly into the final /l/. Practice with minimal pairs like /dærəl/ vs /dɑːrəl/ to hear the contrast.
In US and AU, the first syllable uses /æ/ with stress on the first syllable; the second vowel is reduced to /ə/ or /ɪ/ depending on speaker, yielding /ˈdærəl/. In UK English, /ɪ/ is more common in the second syllable, giving /ˈdærɪl/. Rhoticity affects US/AU more strongly in connected speech, where /ɹ/ is pronounced; in many UK varieties the post-vocalic /r/ is non-rhotic, giving a slightly shorter r sound or none in syllable-coda. Overall, expect US/AU to have a slightly more central second vowel and a more pronounced final /l/.
The difficulty lies in the short, neutralized second vowel and the final consonant cluster /əl/. Speakers must avoid turning it into /ˈdeɪrəl/ or /ˈdæɹl/ by maintaining a quick, reduced second vowel and a crisp /l/ at the end. Subtle differences in the /ɹ/ or /ɹ/ articulation and whether the second vowel is /ə/ or /ɪ/ require soft, light tongue movement and careful lip positioning to produce a natural, clear two-syllable name.
Daryl often features a “soft” second vowel and a clear but brief final consonant. The nuance is in whether the second vowel is as reduced as /ə/ (more common in American speech) or slightly more vocalized as /ɪ/ (more typical in some UK pronunciations). You’ll hear slight speaker variation, so aim for /ˈdærəl/ with a quick, relaxed transition between /ær/ and /əl/.
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Daryl is a modern given name with uncertain medieval origins. It is often considered a variant of Darrell or Darrel, which themselves may derive from the Old French name Darrel or the medieval English surname Darell, used as a given name later. The etymological lineage likely traces to the Norman Conquest, with Darell possibly derived from the Old English elements deor ‘deer’ or dearl ‘beloved’, combined with -ell suffixes that softened to a personal name form. Over time, Daryl emerged as a distinct spelling in 20th-century English-speaking countries, popularized by fictional characters and celebrities. The name’s meaning becomes more about personal identity than a fixed semantic root in contemporary usage. First known uses appear in English-language records in the 19th and 20th centuries as a surname or given-name variant, with modern popularity driven by media representations and naming trends. The pronunciation variants reflect regional shifts in vowel quality and rhoticity across US, UK, and AU contexts, shaping how the name is heard in everyday speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Daryl" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Daryl" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Daryl"
-ial sounds
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