2 syllables: Swad, dle. Stress on Swad.
SWAH-duhl
/ˈswɑ.dəl/
Swaddle is pronounced SWAH-duhl (/ˈswɑ.dəl/). It has two syllables (Swad-dle), with the stress on "Swad". Swaddle is a verb meaning to wrap a baby snugly in a blanket or cloth to restrict movement and provide comfort. The act emphasizes secure, cocoon-like wrapping, often with the fabric tucked around the infant’s body. It conveys care and containment, commonly practiced in early infancy for warmth and security.
verbSwaddle is a verb meaning to wrap a baby snugly in a blanket or cloth to restrict movement and provide comfort. The act emphasizes secure, cocoon-like wrapping, often with the fabric tucked around the infant’s body. It conveys care and containment, commonly practiced in early infancy for warmth and security.
"The nurse swaddled the newborn tightly to help him sleep."
"Parents often swaddle babies with a light blanket to recreate the snug feeling of the womb."
"She swaddled the baby before placing him in the bassinet."
Pronounce as SWAD-dl or SWAD-əl with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈswɒd.əl/. The first syllable contains the open back rounded vowel /ɒ/ followed by the consonant cluster /d/ and a light, syllabic or schwa in the second syllable depending on speaker. Keep lips rounded for /ɒ/ and avoid adding an extra syllable after /d/. Audio reference: standard pronunciation resources can be checked for native-speaker examples.
Common errors include pronouncing it as two equally stressed syllables with a hard 'l' sound at the end (SWAD-UL) or inserting an extra vowel between /ɒ/ and /d/, like /ˈswɔːdəl/ or /ˈswɔːd.li/. The correct pattern reduces the second syllable to a short schwa or syllabic consonant /l̩/, and the /d/ blends into the following light /l/ without an extra vowel. Practice by saying SWADE (swo) + dl quickly, keeping the second syllable short.
US/UK tend to use /ˈswɒd.əl/ with a short /ɒ/ in the first syllable. In some US dialects, the second syllable reduces to a near-schwa /əl/, while in strong accents you may hear a lightly pronounced /l/ at the end. Australian English typically preserves /ˈswɒd.ə(l)/ with a slightly lighter post-vocalic /ə/ or syllabic /l/ depending on speaker. Overall, the rhoticity is not a major factor here, but vowel height and length can vary slightly by region.
The challenge lies in the two-consonant cluster /dl/ near the syllable boundary and the light, often syllabic /l/ at the end. Many speakers insert an extra vowel, turning it into /ˈswɔː.dəl/ or /ˈswæd.əl/. Also, the short /ɒ/ vowel contrasts with similar words in care contexts, so distinguishing it from /swɔːd/ (swod) matters. Focus on crisp /d/ immediately before /l/ and a quick, nearly silent second syllable.
The key unique aspect is the syllabic /l̩/ option in rapid speech: many speakers finalize with a very light, nearly syllabic /l/. So you can hear /ˈswɒd.l̩/ rather than /ˈswɒd.əl/. Practicing by ending the word with a clipped L reduces extraneous vowels and aligns with native rhythm in infant-care contexts.
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Swaddle derives from the Middle English word swadelen, meaning to swaddle, wrap, or bind with cloth. The term is likely related to Old English swædel or similar forms tied to binding or wrapping. Historically, European infant care practices involved swaddling as a normative method to restrict limb movement and provide security, often using long cloths or narrow swaddling bands to keep babies immobile. The concept appears in various cultures with variations in technique and degree of restriction, reflecting beliefs about infant comfort, safety, and temperature regulation. The modern sense of swaddling emphasizes snug wrapping to imitate the womb’s containment, aiding sleep and self-soothing. The earliest documented use in English literature traces to medieval or early modern periods, with widespread usage increasing in the 18th and 19th centuries as infant care manuals emerged. In recent times, swaddling has evolved with safer guidelines, advocating for hip-healthy wraps and flexible arms to avoid restricted movement, while retaining the core idea of securing a newborn with a calm, cocoon-like enclosure.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Swaddle" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Swaddle" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Swaddle"
-dle sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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