Transcript of a short YouTube pronunciation tutorial (speakers: Hadar Shemesh and another speaker) explaining how to pronounce the English word "squirrel." The speaker breaks the word into segments (initial s + k/sk, a w→r transition, a schwa-like vowel and a dark L) and models sounds and examples (e.g., "worked").
How to pronounce the.
Word squirrel.
You start with an s sound, then the k sk. From here you shift to the w sound. Then we have an r in between. There is a stir sound, but it actually feels as if you're shifting from the w to the r directly.
Were Were.
As in worked.
Or were we were Squir.
The second part of the word. I want you to imagine as if you're pronouncing another R, a small schwa sound and a dark.
L. Roll A.
Schwa before a dark l almost sounds like an sound. Listen.
Roll, squirrel. Roll, squirre. Roll squirrel. Squirrel.
Some people might pronounce it with an sound.
So square roll. Square roll. Whatever is easier for you.
Read Out Loud with me! Dare to Lead by Brené Brown | Pronunciation & Vocabulary practice
