A hurdle is a barrier or obstacle that must be overcome, often in a race or challenge. It can also denote any challenge requiring effort to surpass. In sports, hurdles are barriers for runners; metaphorically, hurdles are problems or difficulties you must navigate to achieve a goal.
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- You may overemphasize the second syllable, making it sound like HURR-düle; keep the second syllable short and unstressed, roughly /əl/. - A frequent slip is replacing /ɜː/ with a fronted /ɜ/ or /ɪ/; aim for a rounded, central vowel in stressed first syllable. Practice with minimal pairs that contrast /ɜː/ and /ɪ/. - Some learners add an extra syllable or hesitate between /r/ and /d/; practice the /rd/ cluster as a quick, connected sequence with no extra vowel. Use a slow-to-normal tempo before speeding up.
- US: emphasize rhotics and a full /ɜːr/ in the first syllable; keep second syllable concise /l̩/ or /əl/. - UK: often non-rhotic; the /r/ may be less audible, but the first syllable remains stressed with /ɜː/ color; second syllable remains light. - AU: generally rhotic but with flatter vowel quality; the /d/ is clear, and the final /l/ may be light or syllabic /l̩/. - IPA references: use /ˈhɜːrdəl/ (US), /ˈhɜːdəl/ (UK), /ˈhɜːdə(ɫ)/ (AU) as baseline. Focus on maintaining a crisp /d/ before the final schwa or syllabic /l/.
"The runner cleared the hurdle with a smooth, rhythmic stride."
"Budget constraints became the main hurdle in launching the project."
"She faced the cultural hurdles of moving to a new country, then thrived."
"Overcoming the initial hurdle of public speaking helped boost her confidence."
The noun hurdle traces to Old English hyrdel or hyrdel meaning a fence, barrier, or enclosure. It originally referred to a movable obstacle in hunting or a protective fence, often made of woven branches. By the 14th century, hurdle denoted a barrier or obstacle in general use. In racing, the term solidified to describe the series of barriers runners leap over during a track event, with the action of leaping over a hurdle. The metaphorical sense—an obstacle or challenge to overcome—emerged as the word extended from a physical barrier to figurative difficulties in life or work. The term has cognates in other Germanic languages, reflecting a common concept of crossing or clearing physical boundaries. The evolution from a concrete fence to a figurative obstacle aligns with broader linguistic shifts where physical barriers become symbolic of non-physical challenges. First known written uses appear in medieval English texts describing fences or enclosures, and by the 18th–19th centuries it was well established in sports terminology as well as metaphorical language for difficulties encountered in pursuits. In modern usage, hurdle remains both literal (sports) and figurative (a hurdle to success), preserving its sense of a barrier that must be cleared with skill, effort, and persistence.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "hurdle" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "hurdle" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "hurdle"
-dle 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.
Hurdle is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈhɜːr.dəl/ in US and UK representations. The primary stress is on the first syllable. Begin with a mid-back rounded vowel /ɜː/ as in 'bird', then an /r/ sound, followed by a light /d/ and a soft /əl/ ending. It sounds like HUR-dəl; keep the /r/ sound soft and avoid turning the second syllable into a strong vowel. For Australian, you’ll hear /ˈhɜː.dəl/ or /ˈhəː.dəl/ with a slightly reduced or centralized second vowel. Audio references: consult reputable pronunciation dictionaries or native speaker recordings for listening practice.
Common errors include pronouncing the second syllable as a full, stressed vowel (like HUR-dol) or turning /ə/ into a clearer /æ/ or /ɪ/. Another frequent misstep is reducing the /r/ in non-rhotic accents, leading to HUR-dəl with weak rhoticity. Correct by ensuring stress stays on the first syllable, practicing the /d/ with a light touch, and keeping the second syllable as a schwa or a quick /əl/ rather than a full vowel. Listening to native speakers helps lock in the subtle rhythm.
In US English, /ˈhɜːrdəl/ with rhotic /r/ is common and the second syllable often reduces to /əl/. UK English also uses /ˈhɜːdəl/ but with a potentially less pronounced /r/ in non-rhotic varieties; the /ə/ remains central. Australian English generally uses /ˈhɜːdə(l)/ or /ˈhəːdl/ with a similarly reduced second syllable and a pronounced final /l/. In all varieties, the initial vowel is a mid-central /ɜː/; differences primarily involve rhoticity and vowel coloring.
Difficulties stem from the contrast between the stressed, consonant-rich first syllable and the light, unstressed second syllable. The /ɜː/ vowel in the first syllable is a mid-central vowel that doesn’t exist in many languages, and the /r/ is prominent in rhotic accents but subdued in non-rhotic ones. The transition from /ɜːr/ to /dəl/ requires precise tongue positioning, avoiding a vowel intrusion between /r/ and /d/. Mastery comes from slow, focused practice on the cluster /rd/ and the final /əl/ sequence.
Some speakers produce a subtle linking sound between syllables, sounding like /ˈhɜːrd.əl/ with a lightly articulated /ɹ/ leading into the schwa; others glide the /l/ very lightly, making the second syllable sound almost like /lə/ or /l̩/. The key is maintaining a crisp /d/ before the light /əl/ and avoiding a trailing /r/ into the second syllable. Listen to native speakers and record yourself to notice which variant you lean toward and adjust accordingly.
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- Shadowing: imitate a native speaker saying ‘hurdle’ in natural sentences; start slow, then match rhythm and stress. - Minimal pairs: hurdle vs hurdle-duller? (not helpful). Better: compare with ‘hurdle’ vs ‘hurdler’ (extra syllable) and vs ‘huddle’ to hear vowel length and rhotics. - Rhythm practice: count syllables in phrases like ‘over the hurdle’ to feel the tempo: 2-1-1-2 pattern across phrases. - Stress practice: keep primary stress on first syllable; practice with added phrase stress (e.g., ‘the HUR-dle of the race’). - Recording: record yourself saying the word in isolation and in sentences; compare with a native pronunciation and adjust the /d/ and /əl/ quickly. - Context sentences: use both sports and figurative senses to practice natural usage. - Slow-to-fast progression: start at 60 BPM, move to 90 BPM, then normal speed. - Tongue/tip placement: tip of the tongue lightly taps the alveolar ridge for /d/, the tip and blade govern /r/ depending on accent; relax the jaw for the schwa.
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