Devil is a common noun referring to a malevolent supernatural being or force. In everyday language it also labels a person considered extremely wicked or mischievous. The term carries strong negative connotations and appears in idioms and phrases, such as “the devil is in the details.” Its pronunciation features a stressed first syllable and a final syllabic -əl sound common in American and British varieties.
- Mispronouncing the second syllable as a full vowel (e.g., /ˈdɛv.ɪl/ or /ˈdɛv.iːl/). Correction: drop to a weak schwa /ə/ or /əl/, relax the jaw, and keep the syllable light. - Over-articulating the /l/ in the final position, making it sound like a separate syllable. Correction: let the /l/ be light and almost syllabic, blending with the schwa. - In fast speech, merging /d/ and /ɛ/ too slowly or too quickly, causing a choppy rhythm. Correction: practice with controlled tempo to maintain strong first syllable and a quick, soft second.
- US: Emphasize a clear /ɛ/ in the first syllable; the second syllable uses a reduced /ə/ before /l/. - UK: Slightly crisper /dɛ/ onset and a shorter second vowel; luster on final consonant. Vowel in the second syllable might be more centralized, e.g., /ˈdɛ.vəl/ or /ˈdɛv.ɪl/. IPA references: US /ˈdɛv.əl/, UK /ˈdɛv.ɪl/; AU often blends /ə/ similar to US. - General tip: keep the mouth relaxed for the second syllable, avoid tensing the tongue for the /l/; aim for a light, almost shimmer-like l. Compare rhotic vs non-rhotic tendencies; rhoticity does not majorly affect this word, but vowel quality does.
"The village feared the devil who was said to haunt the old churchyard."
"She warned them to beware of the devil in disguise among their enemies."
"In the story, the devil tempts the hero with power and wealth."
"We argued about whether the phrase ‘the devil is in the details’ is meant humorously or critically."
Devil originates from the Latin diabolus, from Greek diabolos, meaning 'slanderer' or 'accuser.' The word passed into Old English as deofol (later becoming devil) under the influence of Latin and Christian theological vocabulary. Early English texts attest to 'deuuel' or 'devil' in the sense of a malevolent spiritual being by the 9th–11th centuries, with roots in Judaic-Christian traditions of fallen angels and tempters. The semantic arc in English aligns with Old English deofol, later reinforced by medieval Latin diabolus; the pronunciation consolidated around /ˈdɛv.əl/ in many dialects, though spelling retained classic Latin diabolus’s influence in compound forms (devilish, devilry). The term migrated into idiomatic English as a general label for wickedness or troublesome characters, expanding into phrases like 'the devil's advocate' and 'speak of the devil.' The word’s orthography reflects its Germanic base for the initial D-e-v- cluster, with the final -il forming through influence from Latin -ilus and French -il, common in religious and moral discourses of the medieval and early modern periods. First known uses in Old English documents appear around the 9th century, but the concept and names of the devil branch much further into ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean mythologies across multiple languages, revealing a long-standing cross-cultural portrayal of malevolent forces.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Devil" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Devil" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Devil" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Devil"
-vel sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounced as /ˈdɛv.əl/ in US and UK practice, with primary stress on the first syllable. The first syllable starts with a voiced alveolar stop d, followed by a short open-mid vowel /ɛ/ as in 'bed'. The second syllable uses a weak, unstressed schwa /ə/ or /əl/ in some accents, forming the 'vəl' sound. In American speech you’ll often hear a slightly clearer ending /əl/; in careful speech you may hear /ˈdɛv.ɪl/ with a shorter /ɪ/ before the l. Audio references: try online dictionaries with speaker recordings for US/UK variants.
Two common errors: 1) Turning the second syllable into a clear vowel like /i/ or /iː/ (pronouncing /ˈdɛv.il/). Correction: keep the second syllable as a weak /ə/ or /əl/, reducing the vowel to a schwa and relaxing the tongue. 2) Misplacing the syllable stress (putting stress on the second syllable). Correction: maintain strong primary stress on the first syllable /ˈdɛv/; the second syllable remains unstressed. Also watch for final /l/ clarity when linking to consonants.
In US English, /ˈdɛv.əl/ with clear /ɛ/ in the first syllable and a reduced second syllable. UK English commonly has /ˈdɛ.vɪl/ or /ˈdɛv.ɪl/, with a slightly shorter first vowel and less rhoticity influence; many speakers maintain /l/ clearly. Australian English typically shows /ˈdɛv.əl/ or /ˈdɛv.ɪl/, with a mid-centralized second vowel and a softer /ɪ/; non-rhotic tendencies may lead to slight vowel changes depending on speaker. All share the stressed-first pattern but vary the second syllable vowel quality.
Key difficulty lies in the final syllable: producing a light, unstressed schwa or a schwa-like /ə/ before the final /l/ without adding extra vowel length. The quick reduction in connected speech makes /əl/ sound like a single, syllabic /l/ for some speakers. Also, the initial /ˈdɛv/ cluster demands precise alveolar stop production and a short open-mid vowel; mis-timing the release or tongue position can create an audibly off vowel or a stronger /i/.
In standardAmerican and British English, the primary stress remains on the first syllable /ˈdɛv/. The second syllable is unstressed, often realized as /əl/ or /ɪl/ depending on speaker and rate. In careful or slow speech you might hear a slightly clearer /əl/ with a reduced vowel, but stress does not shift to the second syllable in typical usage. This pattern helps distinguish Devil from near-homophones in phrases or poetic contexts.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Devil"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker saying Devil in slow, medium, then fast, and imitate the rhythm while maintaining strong first syllable stress. - Minimal pairs: compare devil /ˈdɛv.əl/ with develop /dɪˈvɛləp/ to practice stress placement, and with devilish /ˈdɛv.ɪlɪʃ/ to train transitions. - Rhythm practice: mark syllables and speak in 1.2–1.5x speed while keeping the beat of the first syllable. - Stress practice: rehearse sentences that require emphasis on Devil (e.g., “The DEVIL is in the details.”) but avoid overemphasizing the second syllable. - Recording: record yourself reading 5 sentences, then compare with native speaker samples, focusing on the second syllable reduction.
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