Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

sprawl

/spɹoːl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.99 in modern English

Syllables
sprawl
IPA
/spɹoːl/
11
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To sit with the limbs spread out.

verb

To scoot the legs backwards, so as to land on the upper back of an opponent attempting a takedown.

noun

An ungainly sprawling posture.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A straggling, haphazard growth, especially of housing on the edge of a city.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A defensive technique that is done in response to certain takedown attempts, where one scoots the legs backwards so as to land on the upper back of the opponent.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English spraulen, from Old English spreawlian (“move convulsively”), ultimately through a Proto-Germanic form cognate with *spreutaną (“to sprout”) from Proto-Indo-European *sper- (“to strew”). Compare North Frisian spraweli, Norwegian sprala, Swedish sprala.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /spɹoːl/
  • British English: /spɹɔːl/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce sprawl?
The recorded pronunciation is /spɹoːl/.
What does sprawl mean?
To sit with the limbs spread out.
Where does sprawl come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce sprawl

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