hurl
/hɝl/verb, noun
hurl is spelled H-U-R-L: 4 letters and one syllable. It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 32,393rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, hurl means “To throw (something) with force” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in hurl?
| Letters | 4: H-U-R-L |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 32,393rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is hurl?
Hurl appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 32,393rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce hurl?
- UK /hɜːl/
- US /hɝl/
- /høːl/
Hurl has one syllable (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-au-hurl.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with hurl?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as hurl from its last stressed vowel (/ɜɹl/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of hurl
- hurls present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- hurling participle, present
- hurled participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does hurl mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To throw (something) with force.
- 2
To utter (harsh or derogatory speech), especially at its target.
The gangs hurled abuse at each other.
- 3
To participate in the sport of hurling.
- 4
slangTo vomit.
- 5
obsoleteTo twist or turn.
- 6
obsoleteTo move rapidly with a noise; to whirl.
- 7
ScotlandobsoleteTo convey in a wheeled vehicle.
noun
- 1
A throw, especially a violent throw; a fling.
He managed a hurl of 50.3 metres.
- 2
slangThe act of vomiting.
Open the window! I've gotta take a hurl.
- 3
slangVomit.
WAYNE: What I'd really like to do is something extraordinary. Something big. […] But I'll probably end up working at Great America, mopping up hurl and lung butter.
- 4
The act of hitting the sliotar with the hurley.
- 5
ScotlandslangA conveyance in a wheeled vehicle; a ride in a car, etc.
- 6
obsoleteTumult; riot; hurly-burly.
- 7
obsoleteA table on which fibre is stirred and mixed by beating with a bow spring.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Hurl in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense throw with force:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | projeter |
| German | schleudern |
| Portuguese | arremessar, atirar |
| Spanish | arrojar, lanzar, tirar, proyectar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does hurl come from?
Inherited from Middle English hurlen, of onomatopoeic origin; compare hurry, hurtle.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).