3 syllables: Dra, cu, la. Stress on Dra.
DRAK-yoo-luh
/ˈdɹækjulə/
Dracula is pronounced DRAK-yoo-luh (/ˈdɹækjulə/). It has three syllables (Dra-cu-la), with the stress on "Dra". Dracula is a proper noun referring to the fictional vampire character from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, and to related vampires in popular culture. It’s also used as a name for people or characters inspired by the figure. The term’s pronunciation is culturally distinctive and often carries a blend of Eastern European phonology with Anglophone adaptation.
nounDracula is a proper noun referring to the fictional vampire character from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, and to related vampires in popular culture. It’s also used as a name for people or characters inspired by the figure. The term’s pronunciation is culturally distinctive and often carries a blend of Eastern European phonology with Anglophone adaptation.
- You often over-emphasize the first syllable, saying /ˈdræ.kjə.lə/; instead aim for a light /drə/ and strong /ˈkjul/ in the second syllable. - The /kj/ cluster can be hard; avoid inserting an extra vowel between /k/ and /j/. Keep /kj/ tight, then glide to /u/ or /ə/. - Final schwa is easy to shorten or drop in fast speech; keep a clear, relaxed /ə/ at the end to preserve the rhythm. - Some speakers add an extra ‘l’ in the end; maintain a single /l/ before the final /ə/.
How to Pronounce Dracula
"The scholar lectured on Dracula in late-Victorian fiction."
"In the film, Dracula’s accent shifts with his mood and destination."
"The exhibit compared Dracula’s Transylvanian origins with modern vampire lore."
US/UK/AU pronunciation converge on /drəˈkjulə/ or /drəˈkuːlə/ with primary stress on the second syllable. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a /k/ + palatal approximant /j/ (as in 'you'), and end with /lə/. For most speakers the sequence is drə- KYOO-lə or drə-KYU-lə. Audio cues: imagine saying 'druh- KYOO-luh' quickly; the 'ru' reduces to a soft 'ruh' before the 'kyu' cluster. Important: keep the /j/ as a light y-glide.
Common errors: turning the second syllable into /kju/ with heavy 'lu' onset, pronouncing it as /ˈdrækjʊlə/ (emphasizing 'drac-'), or misplacing stress as /drəˈkjulə/ instead of the dominant second syllable stress. Correction: keep /drə/ as a light, unstressed first syllable, then deliver /ˈkjul/ with clear liaison between /k/ and /j/ before the final /ə/. Focus on the /lj/ sequence; avoid dumping a hard 'l' on 'la'. Practice slow, then accelerate while maintaining the /j/ glide.
In US English, stress remains on the second syllable with /əˈkjulə/ and rhotic r-drop is not involved. UK tends to retain a slightly crisper /ˈkjʊ/ cluster, sometimes reducing to /ˈkjʊlə/ depending on region. Australian dialects align with non-rhotic tendencies; the second-syllable vowel may be slightly lowered and the /j/ could be more dithered as /ɲ/. Across all, the core is /drəˈkjulə/, but vowel qualities drift: US often '/ə/' vs UK '/ə/ or '/ɪ/' in rapid speech, AU leans toward a rounded vowel in the second syllable.
The difficulty lies in the two-parenthesized thi- cluster: /drə/ is a reduced vowel; the /k/ immediately precedes /j/ as a palatal glide, forming /kj/ which is not common when combined with a following /u/ or /j/ sound. The sequence /kjul/ can be mispronounced as /kjulæ/ or /kjula/. Additionally, the unstressed first syllable can cause assimilation or vowel reduction. Practicing the precise /drəˈkjulə/ sequence with a steady /j/ before the final schwa helps stabilize the pronunciation.
In casual speech, some speakers reduce /drə/ to /drə/ or even a quickly delivered /drəˈkjuːlə/ with a lesser emphasis on the first syllable, but the standard authoritative form maintains /drəˈkjulə/. In rapid dialogue you might hear /drəkjuːlə/ with the schwa collapsing into a shorter, lighter vowel; the primary emphasis remains on the second syllable. Listen for the light, quick ‘ruh-KYOO-luh’ sound.
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- US: emphasize the second syllable with a clear /kj/ sequence and a mid-back vowel in the final syllable. String: drə-KYOO-lə; keep the /r/ light. - UK: crisper consonant release on /k/ and a slightly tighter /j/; still stress the second syllable; you may hear a slightly rounded second vowel. - AU: softer /r/ if non-rhotic; the /kj/ may be slightly less sharp; keep the glide smooth and the final /ə/ relaxed. - IPA references: US /drəˈkjulə/; UK /drəˈkjulə/; AU /drəˈkjulə/.
Dracula derives from the Romanian name Draculea (var. Drăculea), associated with the legendary Transylvanian Count Vlad III (Vlad the Impaler). The title was Anglicized in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, where the name designates a vampire aristocrat. The root drac- traces to Latin draco, meaning dragon, serpent, or dragon-like creature; Romanian renderings connected to fearsome, noble European motifs. Over time, Dracula shifted from a historical-legendary surname to a fictional supernatural archetype, influencing countless adaptations across film, literature, and media. The first English usage in Stoker’s novel crystallized the proper-noun status, endowing the name with a chilling, aristocratic aura that still resonates in Vampire lore. Today, Dracula is often treated as both a character name and a symbol of immortal menace, with pronunciations reflecting cross-cultural exposure and media influence.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Dracula" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Dracula"
-ura sounds
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