3 syllables: fol, li, cle. Stress on fol.
FAH-luh-kuhl
/ˈfɑləkəl/
follicle is pronounced FAH-luh-kuhl (/ˈfɑləkəl/). It has three syllables (fol-li-cle), with the stress on "fol". A follicle is a small, saclike cavity in tissue from which a hair grows or an organ’s glandular unit originates. In anatomy, it typically refers to a hair follicle within the skin, containing the hair shaft and sebaceous gland. In botany, a follicle is a dry, scalar, simple fruit formed from one carpel that splits open on one side to release seeds.
A follicle is a small, saclike cavity in tissue from which a hair grows or an organ’s glandular unit originates. In anatomy, it typically refers to a hair follicle within the skin, containing the hair shaft and sebaceous gland. In botany, a follicle is a dry, scalar, simple fruit formed from one carpel that splits open on one side to release seeds.
"The dermatologist examined the scalp follicle for signs of infection."
"She scrubbed the area gently to avoid disrupting the hair follicle."
"Each hair follicle sits in a tiny niche in the dermis."
Pronunciation is /ˈfɒlɪkəl/ in US and UK dictionaries, with primary stress on the first syllable. Break it as FOL-li-cle. The first vowel is the short open back /ɒ/ (US often merges to /ɑ/). The middle is a short /ɪ/ before the /k/ consonant, and the final is a reduced syllable /əl/. Think: FOL-ih-kəl. For a quick anchor, imagine saying ‘foli’ as in ‘foliage’ but stop at the ‘k’ before the -le ending; the final -le is a light, unstressed schwa plus l.”,
Common errors include over-articulating the final -cle as /kl/ instead of a light /kəl/ or /kl̩/, and treating the middle /ɪ/ as a long vowel or mixing the /ɒ/ with /ɔː/. Another slip is misplacing stress, saying fol-licle with reduced clarity on the first syllable. Correct by holding the first syllable a tad longer and reducing the final to a quick /əl/; ensure the /l/ is not swallowed or merged with the vowel. Practice with minimal pairs to separate the vowels cleanly.”
In US and UK, the word remains /ˈfɒlɪkəl/, with primary stress on the first syllable; rhoticity doesn’t drastically alter the pattern here. Australian English is similar, but vowel qualities may be slightly more rounded or centralized, giving a marginal shift in the first vowel toward /ɒ/ or /ɐ/. The final /əl/ often reduces to a light schwa+l or a syllabic /l/. Across accents, the main variation you’ll hear is in the nucleus vowels of the first syllable and the degree of vowel reduction in the final syllable.”
It blends a stressed initial syllable with a softly reduced final syllable, plus a cluster /lk/ near the middle. The challenge is keeping the central /ɒ/ or /ɒ/—not a broad /ɔː/—while shaping a quick, light /l/ into the /ɪ/ then ending with a subtle /kəl/. The sequence /lɪk/ followed by /əl/ can loosen into a light “lih-kuhl” if you’re not carefully closing the final /l/ with the tongue. Focus on keeping the first vowel compact and the final /əl/ distinct but brief.”
A unique aspect is the /ɡ/ vs /k/ transition that doesn’t occur here, so beware of inserting a /g/ sound in rapid speech. Also note that the second syllable’s /l/ can be light; avoid nasalizing it. In careful speech, you’ll articulate /ˈfɒlɪkəl/ by maintaining a crisp /l/ before the /ɪ/ and ensuring the final /əl/ is quick and soft, not a heavy “ell” or “elll.” This keeps the rhythm compact and accurate.
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US: rhoticity is standard, pero /ˈfɒlɪkəl/ shows a clear /ɒ/ vowel and a clear /l/ before /ɪ/. UK: slightly more back vowels; final /əl/ often reduced more, leading to an almost syllabic /l/ in rapid speech. AU: vowels may be flatter; expect a compact /ɒ/ with less tongue advancement, and a softer final /əl/. Across all, stress remains on the first syllable; the second syllable houses a short /ɪ/ and a light /k/ before /əl/. Use IPA as your anchor and listen for subtle vowel shifts in recordings.
Follicle comes from Latin folliculus, diminutive of follis meaning “bag, sack.” The Latin term folliculus referred to a small bag, pocket, or sheath, often in anatomical contexts to describe a small sac-like structure. Early Latin borrowed into Middle French as follicule, then into English in the 16th century with the medical sense of a small sac or pouch approaching its modern anatomical meaning. The word’s core idea— a little sac or container—endures in both hair follicles (follicle of the skin) and floral/bol-based structures where a seed is enclosed in a sac. Over time, the term broadened in anatomy to denote any sac-like cavity surrounded by tissue, including glands. The first well-documented uses in English appeared in anatomical texts of the Renaissance, aligning with the era’s surge in microscopic and surgical inquiry. Today, follicle remains a precise technical term in dermatology, reproductive biology, botany, and histology, signaling a small sac or cavity that houses a functional unit (hair, gland, or seed) and often communicates a relationship of containment and potential growth.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "follicle" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "follicle"
-kle sounds
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