English pronunciation · Words Starting with V
Virile Pronunciation
Virile is pronounced VI-ruhl, IPA /ˈvɪrəl/.
VI-ruhl
US /ˈvɪrəl/ · UK /ˈvɪraɪl/
Syllables: VI · ruhl (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
adjective: Having strength, energy, and a strong sexual drive, said of a man.
Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.
Virile in a Sentence
- He was still virile at seventy.
- The advert sells a virile image of country life.
- Virile is a word that has aged badly.
Common Mispronunciations of Virile
Not VY-ryl
Clip the opening to the short i of win. A long i at the front produces viral, which is a wholly different word.
Not vi-RYL
Stress the first syllable and allow the ending to slacken.
Tip: Americans end it with a weak ruhl, British speakers with a full ryl that rhymes with mile. The stress stays at the front either way.
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