2 syllables: Par, cel. Stress on Par.
PAHR-suhl
/ˈpɑɹsəl/
Parcel is pronounced PAHR-suhl (/ˈpɑɹsəl/). It has two syllables (Par-cel), with the stress on "Par". Parcel is a noun meaning a wrapped package or bundle sent through mail or delivery services. It can also refer to land or a measured portion of property. The term emphasizes a discrete, transportable item or allotment and is often used in logistics, mail, and land surveying contexts.
nounParcel is a noun meaning a wrapped package or bundle sent through mail or delivery services. It can also refer to land or a measured portion of property. The term emphasizes a discrete, transportable item or allotment and is often used in logistics, mail, and land surveying contexts.
How to Pronounce Parcel
"I placed the parcel on the doorstep and knocked."
"The parcel from overseas took longer than expected to arrive."
"They sold a parcel of land to the neighboring developer."
pronounced PAR-suhl. In IPA for US: /ˈpɑr.səl/; UK: /ˈpɑː.səl/; AU: /ˈpɑː.səl/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: PAR-, with a clear, open front vowel in the first syllable and a schwa-like second syllable. Mouth: start with an open jaw for /ɑ/ or /ɑː/, followed by a light, unstressed /s/ or /z/ before the final /əl/.”
Common errors: 1) For US speakers, flattening the /ɑ/ to a more lax /æ/, which makes it sound like 'par-sell' rather than PAR-suhl. Correction: open jaw, back-tongue /ɑ/ then crisp /s/ before a reduced /əl/. 2) Over-articulating the second syllable: avoid stressing -sel; keep secondary syllable unstressed as /səl/. 3) Vowel merging with 'pair' or 'pear': keep /ɑː/ quality distinct from /ɛə/ or /eə/ in certain accents. Practice with minimal pairs PAR-səl vs PAIR-səl.
In US English, /ˈpɑr.səl/ with rhotic /r/ and a pronounced /ɑ/. In UK English, /ˈpɑː.səl/ with a longer /ɑː/ and non-rhotic /r/ (often silent). In Australian English, /ˈpɑː.səl/ similar to UK but with Australian vowel quality, sometimes a slightly closer final /əl/. The main differences are rhoticity and vowel length; US preserves rhotic /r/ and shorter /ɑ/, UK/AU feature broader /ɑː/ and less pronounced linking to final /l/.
Because of the short, unstressed second syllable and the /r/ in American pronunciation, plus the need to transition quickly from the open /ɑ/ to a light /s/ before a schwa-like /əl/. Learners often misplace the stress or merge the vowels, saying PAR-sell or PAR_sul with an excess of vowel height. Focusing on keeping the /ɑ/ open, the /s/ crisp, and the final -əl light will help stabilize the rhythm.
Why is the final -el often reduced to a syllabic or schwa-like ending in some dialects? In many dialects, the final /əl/ reduces to a light schwa or even disappears, especially in rapid speech. To capture the standard parcel, pronounce the final /əl/ clearly as /əl/ or /l̩/ in careful speech; in casual speech you may hear a weaker /əl/ or a syllabic /l/ depending on the speaker's pace.
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US: rhotic /r/, pronounced /ˈpɑr.səl/, keep /ɑr/ clear with a rhotic onset; UK: /ˈpɑː.səl/, non-rhotic, longer /ɑː/ and a lighter /r/ which may be silent; AU: /ˈpɑː.səl/, similar to UK but with broader vowels and less pronounced /r/; Vowel shifts: US may have a slightly tighter /ɹ/ onset, UK/AU have more open, broad /ɑː/. Consonants: ensure /s/ is crisp, avoid adding a vowel between /r/ and /s/ in non-rhotic contexts. IPA references included.
Parcel comes from Middle English parcouel, from Old French parciel or parcelle, stemming from late Latin parcella, a diminutive of parcus meaning a portion. The root parc- conveys division or portion, which evolved into “parcel” as a package or measured land piece. In medieval commerce, parcels represented discrete chunks of goods or land assigned for transport or sale. The word’s semantic drift from a physical portion to a tangible object sent as mail reflects the growing postal system’s need to label discrete units. First known use in English dates to the 14th century, with forms attested in legal and mercantile records, then increasingly used in shipping and logistics as global trade expanded. Over time, “parcel” became a standard term in courier services, real estate, and agricultural contexts, retaining the core sense of a defined portion or item intended for handling or transfer.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Parcel" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Parcel" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Parcel"
-cel sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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