2 syllables: Hurd, les. Stress on Hurd.
HUR-duhlz
/ˈhɝdəlz/
Hurdles is pronounced HUR-duhlz (/ˈhɝdəlz/). It has two syllables (Hurd-les), with the stress on "Hurd". Hurdles is a plural noun referring to obstacles or barriers that must be overcome. It also denotes a track-and-field event in which athletes leap over evenly spaced barriers. The term conveys both literal and figurative challenges, and can describe difficult steps in processes, goals, or competitions.
nounHurdles is a plural noun referring to obstacles or barriers that must be overcome. It also denotes a track-and-field event in which athletes leap over evenly spaced barriers. The term conveys both literal and figurative challenges, and can describe difficult steps in processes, goals, or competitions.
"The project faced several hurdles before finally reaching completion."
"Athletes trained for the hurdles event, sprinting and leaping over each barrier."
"She navigated bureaucratic hurdles to get the permit approved."
Pronounce as /ˈhɜːrdəlz/ (US) or /ˈhɜːdəlz/ (UK/AU). Start with a stressed first syllable HUR-, with the /ɜː/ vowel; follow with a light, quick -dəl- before the final /z/. The tongue rests mid-high, with the jaw slightly lowered, and the /r/ is rhotic in US. A common variant is a reduced second syllable 'dəl' in fast speech. Listen for a crisp /ˈhɜːrdəlz/ in careful pronunciation and a softer /-dəlz/ in rapid speech.
Two frequent errors: (1) misplacing the stress, saying huRD-les or hur-duls; ensure primary stress on HUR-. (2) Vowel quality in the first syllable; avoid a lax /ɜ/ like in 'her' in some dialects; aim for /ɜː/. Also, the final /z/ should be voiced; avoid devoicing to /s/ in fast speech. Practice with slow, exaggerated articulation and then normalize tempo.
In US English, /ˈhɜːrdəlz/ with rhotic r; the /ɜːr/ sequence is pronounced as a single rhotic vowel. UK/AU typically /ˈhɜːdəlz/ with a shorter rhotic or non-rhotic influence depending on region, and the /r/ may be less pronounced before a consonant. Australians tend to maintain rhoticity similar to US but with subtle vowel rounding and a slightly looser /ˈhɜːdəlz/; final z remains voiced. Cross-accent listeners notice vowel length and r-coloring differences.
The difficulty centers on the triad /ˈhɜːr/-/dəl/-/z/. The /ɜːr/ combined vowel plus rhotic coloring challenges non-rhotic speakers; the alveolar /d/ is quick between syllables, and the /z/ must be clearly voiced to distinguish from /s/. Also, the sequence of consonants in 'r-d' can tempt assimilation or mispronunciation, especially at speed. Practice with slow repetition and IPA articulation helps build precision.
Even in non-rhotic contexts, many speakers retain a subtle /ɹ/ influence in the first syllable. You should aim for a clear, single /ɜːr/ (rhotic-like) in careful speech, but in rapid or non-rhotic locales, the /r/ can be less emphasized while the vowel remains tense. The key is to sustain the first syllable's vowel quality before transitioning to the /d/.
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US: rhotic /ɜːr/ with a pronounced rhotic; UK: /ˈhɜː.dəlz/ less rhotic, vowel shorter; AU: similar to US but with vowel quality a touch more centralized and non-fully pronounced /r/ in some regions. IPA guide: US /ˈhɜːrdəlz/, UK /ˈhɜːdəlz/, AU /ˈhɜːdəls/; focus on maintaining the /ɜː/ vowel and a crisp /d/ before /əlz/.
Hurdles comes from the Middle English hurdlen, related to the verb hinder, meaning to create difficulties or to obstruct. The word’s earliest senses referred to barriers in a road or field that impede progress. In Old English, forms like hurdol, hurdel, and hyrdel described a barrier or a pile of brush used to impede passage. The modern sense as obstacles, and particularly as the track-and-field event, developed as agricultural hurdles became standardized in sport during the 19th century. The term evolved to denote both physical barriers on a course and figurative impediments in pursuits. Through the 1800s and early 1900s, competitive running events adopted hurdles as structured obstacles, and the word also broadened to describe non-sporting challenges in everyday life, embodying the metaphorical leap required to overcome them.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Hurdles" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Hurdles"
-les sounds
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