3 syllables: Tri, an, gle. Stress on Tri.
TREYE-ang-guhl
/ˈtɹaɪˌæŋɡəl/
Triangle is pronounced TREYE-ang-guhl (/ˈtɹaɪˌæŋɡəl/). It has three syllables (Tri-an-gle), with the stress on "Tri". Triangle is a three-sided polygon and, by extension, anything triangular in shape. In geometry it denotes a simple geometric figure with three edges and three vertices; in broader usage it can describe a group or relationship involving three elements. The term also appears in phrases (e.g., triangle trade) and specialized contexts (e.g., sound-triangle in music).
nounTriangle is a three-sided polygon and, by extension, anything triangular in shape. In geometry it denotes a simple geometric figure with three edges and three vertices; in broader usage it can describe a group or relationship involving three elements. The term also appears in phrases (e.g., triangle trade) and specialized contexts (e.g., sound-triangle in music).
- You often misplace the /æŋ/ cluster, either shortening the vowel or over-emphasizing the nasal, which makes the /ŋ/ dominate the syllable. Correction: hold the /æ/ clearly for a brief moment, then slide into /ŋ/ with a light palate contact, not a deep nasal pull. - The /ɡ/ can be misunderstood as a hard, explosive sound; instead use a light, quick release into the /əl/ ending. Practice the /ɡ/ as a soft touch before the syllabic /əl/. - The final /əl/ can be reduced to a blunt /l/ or omitted; practice ending with a relaxed schwa-like /əl/ to achieve natural cadence. - In fast speech, the three-syllable pattern can blur; isolate the three segments: /ˈtraɪ/ - /æŋ/ - /ɡəl/ and then blend slowly, then accelerate. - Avoid conflating with ‘triangular’ by carrying a longer /æŋ/ before the /ɡ/; ensure the /æ/ retains short duration while the /ŋ/ remains nasal.
"The roof’s triangle profile gives the house a distinctive silhouette."
"We studied the properties of an equilateral triangle in class."
"In the game, a triangle is formed by connecting three points on the circle."
Triangle is pronounced as /ˈtraɪˌæŋ.ɡəl/ in US and /ˈtraɪ.æŋ.ɡəl/ in UK, with primary stress on the first syllable, and secondary on the second. Start with 'tri' as in 'try' plus the long 'i' sound, then 'an' as in 'and' but with a short, nasal 'æ', followed by 'gle' as 'gəl' with a light, almost unstressed 'g' and a schwa-like ending. Audio guidance from standard dictionaries can help: listen for the crisp initial cluster and the subtle alveolar nasal followed by a soft 'l' at the end.
Common mistakes: (1) Slurring the middle vowel by making it too short or blending the /æ/ with /ŋ/, (2) mispronouncing the /ɡ/ as a hard stop or letting it linger as /ɡəl/; aim for a quick, light /ɡ/ + /əl/ sequence. Ensure the initial /ˈtraɪ/ carries the long I sound and the alveolar /t/ isn't softened. Practicing with minimal pairs like triangle vs. triangle (incorrect), or tri-angle vs. triangled can help isolate the /æŋ/ vs. /æŋ.ɡ/ transition.
US/UK/AU share the same /ˈtraɪˌæŋ.ɡəl/ base, but differences emerge in vowel quality: US tends to a stronger rhotic intro with a slightly glottalized /ɡ/ in rapid speech; UK may feature a clearer /æ/ and a crisper /t/ release before /ɹ/ in connected speech; Australian often smooths the /æ/ toward a broader /eɪ/ in rapid speech and may reduce the final syllable more. Listen for rhotic versus non-rhotic tendencies and the degree of vowel lift in /aɪ/.
The word challenges both vowel and consonant sequencing: the /ˈtraɪ/ onset requires a precise /t/ followed by a diphthong /aɪ/, then the nasal /ŋ/ before the alveolar /ɡ/ and the light /əl/ ending. The cluster /ŋɡ/ must be fluent without spillage into /ŋ.ɡ/; plus, the sequence of three syllables with mixed stress can trip air and tongue positioning. Practicing with slow, segmented articulation helps you lock the transitions.
In triangle, the -gle ending is pronounced /ɡəl/ rather than a hard /ɡl/ sequence; ensure the /l/ is light and the /ɡ/ is not released with a strong aspiration. Some speakers misplace the /æ/ by lengthening it into /æː/ or shortening it too much; keep a crisp /æŋ/ before the /ɡəl/ to maintain the intended syllabic rhythm.
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- US: rhotic r is present; keep the /ɹ/ in connected speech as a soft, quick sound leading into the diphthong; the /æ/ may be slightly tensed. - UK: non-rhotic, so the /r/ is not pronounced; the /æ/ often has a sharper quality; emphasize the /t/ release clearly before /ɹ/ in linked speech. - AU: often vowels are broader; aim for a brighter /aɪ/ and a slightly looser /æ/; the final /əl/ can be lighter with reduced vowel duration. Reference IPA: /ˈtraɪˌæŋ.ɡəl/ (US), /ˈtraɪ.æŋ.ɡəl/ (UK), /ˈtɹaɪ.æŋ.ɡəl/ (AU) with subtle rhotic/dedicated vowel shifts.
Triangle comes from Latin triangulus, from tri- “three” + angulus “angle.” The root angulus is from Greek glyciform word angulos, via Latin. Early Latin used triangulus to describe a three-angled figure; English borrowed triangle in the 14th century via Old French triangule. The term originally conveyed a geometric sense, then extended metaphorically to describe anything with three components or sides (e.g., a three-point relationship). By the 18th–19th centuries, mathematical treatises and geography used triangle to denote the three-vertex polygon and related concepts (triangles used for triangulation in surveying). Over time, “triangle” acquired idiomatic uses in music (triangle percussion), astronomy (triangular constellation patterns), and everyday language (triangle of ideas), while maintaining its core geometric meaning. First known English attestations appear in the 14th century, with Latin and Greek influence standardizing the three-angle concept across Western scholarly vocabulary.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Triangle" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Triangle" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Triangle"
-gle sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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