One syllable: Pool.
pool
/pul/
Pool is pronounced pool (/pul/). It has one syllable (Pool), with the stress on "Pool". Pool is a small, still body of water, typically kept for bathing or recreation, or a collection of resources or opportunities (as in a talent pool or pool of funds). In everyday use, it refers to a single body of water or to a group or reserve from which multiple individuals draw. The term emphasizes contained, shared access rather than moving water.
nounPool is a small, still body of water, typically kept for bathing or recreation, or a collection of resources or opportunities (as in a talent pool or pool of funds). In everyday use, it refers to a single body of water or to a group or reserve from which multiple individuals draw. The term emphasizes contained, shared access rather than moving water.
"We went swimming at the hotel pool."
"The car insurance pool funds were allocated to safety programs."
"A pool of candidates auditioned for the roles."
Pool is pronounced with a single stressed syllable: IPA US/UK/AU /puːl/. The mouth forms a rounded, closed vowel for a long “oo” sound, followed by an ‘l’ consonant. Ensure the vowel is long rather than a short “u” as in “pull.” Think of a steady, single beat: /puːl/; the lips are rounded but not exaggerated, and the tongue stays high and back before the /l/ light contact.
Common mistakes include shortening the vowel to a lax /ʊ/ as in “pull” and misplacing lip rounding. Another error is pronouncing /l/ as a dark velar or adding extra consonants after the /l/. To correct: keep the vowel length long as in /uː/ and maintain a light, smooth /l/ at the end, with the tongue tip lightly touching the alveolar ridge.
In US and AU accents, /puːl/ features a long, rounded back vowel with rhoticity not affecting the word; the /l/ is clear or light. In some British accents, the quality of /uː/ can be slightly higher or tenser, and some speakers may produce a more centralized or shorter /uː/ depending on regional variation; the /l/ remains clear, often a light or dark L depending on adjacent vowels.
The challenge lies in sustaining a long, tense /uː/ vowel while transitioning directly into /l/ without a vowel gap or an abrupt glottal stop. For some, balancing lip rounding with tongue height, and avoiding a shortened /u/ that bleeds into /ʊ/ (as in ‘pull’), is tricky. Practice sustaining the long vowel, then glide into a crisp alveolar /l/ to keep the word compact.
Yes. The key nuance is the duration and quality of /uː/. In rapid speech, the vowel can reduce slightly toward a near-close near-back vowel, but the /l/ should stay slim and clear. Emphasize the long, rounded back vowel before the light alveolar /l/ to prevent slurring into ‘pull’ or ‘pole.’ Always maintain the one-syllable rhythm with a steady onset.
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Pool comes from the Middle English poole, from the Old English pól or pol, meaning a small body of water, especially a stagnant pond. The term is related to the Proto-Germanic *pōluz and has cognates in several Germanic languages. Historically, pool referred to a body of water used for fishing, bathing, or irrigation and later broadened to refer to collections of resources or opportunities—such as a pool of money or a pool of players. The sense of a shared resource gains prominence in medieval and early modern usage, where pools of water or resources were man-made or managed. By the 16th century, pool commonly described a body of water used recreationally or ritually, and in contemporary usage, it also denotes groups assembled for collective use or competition, e.g., betting pools or talent pools. First known written usage in English traces to the 14th–15th centuries, with evolving meanings shaped by social practices around water access and resource pooling.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Pool" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pool" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Pool" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Pool"
-ool sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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