One syllable: Drool.
drool
/dɹul/
Drool is pronounced drool (/dɹul/). It has one syllable (Drool), with the stress on "Drool". Drool is a noun referring to saliva that escapes from the mouth, typically due to sleepiness, fatigue, or fascination. It can also describe a strong desire or eagerness for something in informal use. The term conveys a vivid, slightly humorous image and is commonly used in everyday speech and casual writing.
nounDrool is a noun referring to saliva that escapes from the mouth, typically due to sleepiness, fatigue, or fascination. It can also describe a strong desire or eagerness for something in informal use. The term conveys a vivid, slightly humorous image and is commonly used in everyday speech and casual writing.
"The baby's drool soaked the bib after a long nap."
"He wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth."
"The jaw-dropping performance had the crowd drooling with anticipation."
Pronounce as /dro͞ol/ in General American: d-r-oo-l with the long ‘oo’ as in 'food' and final ‘l’ clearly articulated. Primary stress on the single-syllable word. In IPA for US: /druːl/ or /dro͞ol/; UK often /drʊəl/ with a shorter, closer vowel and a light schwa before the final l. For many Aussies, you may hear /drɔːl/ or /drɔːl/ with a rounded, open back vowel. Mouth position: start with relaxed lips, jaw drops slightly, tongue high-mid for the vowel, tip of the tongue near the bottom teeth, and finish with an audible but not harsh ‘l’. Audio reference: try saying it in a single, fluid motion, listening to the vowel length and the clear L at the end.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the vowel to a quick /rul/ or /drol/ without a clear long vowel; (2) Dropping the final L or making it a dark murmur; (3) Misplacing the tongue so the /uː/ vowel sounds like /ʊ/ or /ə/. Correction: maintain a steady, augmented vowel length like /uː/ in US, keep the tongue high and back for that long oo sound, and finish with a crisp, light L by gently touching the alveolar ridge with the tongue tip.
US: /druːl/ with a clear rhotic r in connected speech and a long monophthong vowel. UK: /drʊəl/ or /drɔːl/, often with a shorter vowel and a more pronounced schwa before L in some dialects; non-rhotic tendencies can affect linking. AU: commonly /drɔːl/ or /drʊəl/, with a broader vowel and strong final L. Pay attention to vowel quality before the L and the speed of syllable release; rhoticity is a key differentiator in US speech.
The difficulty comes from balancing the long, rounded vowel /uː/ with the final alveolar L, especially when speeding up speech. Non-native speakers may merge /uː/ with /ʊ/ or neglect to fully articulate the /l/ at the end. Another challenge is maintaining the mouth shape without adding extra vowel sounds between the vowel and the L; keep the tongue high and back for the long vowel and finish with a crisp, light L for clarity.
No. In standard and colloquial usage, the final L is pronounced clearly as a vocalic alveolar L [l]. Some rapid or casual speech may reduce the L slightly, especially in fast US conversational speech, but it remains audible and important for the word’s intelligibility. Ensure the tongue tip lightly contacts the alveolar ridge and release the air cleanly to produce the L sound without vowel intrusion.
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- US: rhotic liquid r coloring might affect the preceding vowel slightly; ensure the /r/ sound is not present in isolation in non-rhotic environments and that the vowel is long but smooth. - UK: less rhotic influence, vowel quality can be shorter and more centralized; watch for a slightly schwa-like pre-L vowel. - AU: vowels may be broader; draw out the vowel slightly; final L remains audible. IPA references: US /druːl/; UK /drʊəl/; AU /drɔːl/ or /drʊəl/.
The word drool traces to Middle English drole, from Old English droel or drēol, with related forms in other Germanic languages. The root likely stems from Proto-Germanic *drūlaz or *drēwlan, associated with saliva and moisture. By the Middle English period, drool referred specifically to saliva escaping from the mouth, especially during sleep or fatigue. Over time, figurative usage expanded, conveying longing or intense desire (e.g., drooling over something desirable). The sense of moisture leakage remains the core physiological meaning, while the metaphorical sense proliferated in modern colloquial speech. First known uses appear in 13th–14th century English texts, with later literary and pop-cultural instances reinforcing the image of unrestrained saliva and eagerness. The evolution mirrors shifts in humor and informal speech, making it a staple in everyday language rather than technical contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Drool" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Drool" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Drool"
-ool sounds
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