how to pronounce foul

/faʊl/

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the above transcription of foul is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

foul is pronounced in one syllable

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1. example pitch curve for pronunciation of foul

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video examples of foul pronunciation

An example use of foul in a speech by a native speaker of british english:

“… people cried foul they said patients …”

meanings of foul

verb:

To make contact with an opposing player in order to gain advantage.
To besmirch.
To hit outside of the baselines.
To become clogged.
To make dirty.
To clog or obstruct.
To entangle. The kelp has fouled the prop.
To commit a foul.
To hit a ball outside of the baselines.
To become entangled.

adjective:

Entangled and therefore restricting free movement, not clear.
Unpleasant, stormy or rainy.
Ugly; homely; poor.
Dishonest or not conforming to the established rules and customs of a game, conflict, test, etc.
Outside of the base lines; in foul territory.
Detestable, unpleasant, loathsome.
Obscene, vulgar or abusive.
Disgusting, repulsive; causing disgust.
Covered with, or containing unclean matter; dirty.

noun:

A (usually accidental) contact between a bowler and the lane before the bowler has released the ball.
A foul ball, a ball which has been hit outside of the base lines.
A breach of the rules of a game, especially one involving inappropriate contact with an opposing player in order to gain an advantage; for example, tripping someone up in soccer, or contact of any kind in basketball.

foul frequency in english - C1 level of CEFR

the word foul occurs in english on average 10.4 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for C1 level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.