Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

trowel

/ˈtɹaʊ.əl/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.45 in modern English

Syllables
trow-el
IPA
/ˈtɹaʊ.əl/
9
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A mason’s tool, used in spreading and dressing mortar, and breaking bricks to shape them.

noun

A gardener’s tool, shaped like a scoop, used in taking up plants, stirring soil etc.

noun

A tool used for smoothing a mold.

verb

To apply (a substance) with a trowel.

Transitive verb

verb

To pass over with a trowel.

Transitive verb

verb

To apply something heavily or unsubtly.

Colloquial

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English trowell, trouel, truel, from Middle French truelle, from Late Latin truella, from Classical Latin trulla, the diminutive of trua (“ladle”). Doublet of trullo.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce trowel?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈtɹaʊ.əl/.
What does trowel mean?
A mason’s tool, used in spreading and dressing mortar, and breaking bricks to shape them.
Where does trowel come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce trowel

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “trowel”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈtɹaʊ.əl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “trowel”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “trowel” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.