rustle
/ˈɹʌsəl/noun, verb
rustle is spelled R-U-S-T-L-E: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 40,703rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, rustle means “A soft crackling sound similar to the movement of dry leaves” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of rustle is rustles.
How many letters and syllables are in rustle?
| Letters | 6: R-U-S-T-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 40,703rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Sounds like | |
| Same letters |
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 rustle?
Rustle appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 40,703rd 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 rustle?
- /ˈɹʌsəl/
Rustle has 2 syllables (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: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-rustle.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with rustle
Sounds like: Russell (Wiktionary's homophone list; some hold only in some accents).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
What rhymes with rustle?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as rustle.
Spelled with the same letters in another order: result, ulster, lustre, luster, sutler.
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 rustle
- rustles plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- rustling participle, present
- rustled participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does rustle mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A soft crackling sound similar to the movement of dry leaves.
- 2
A movement producing such a sound.
verb
- 1
To move (something) with a soft crackling sound.
- 2
To make or obtain in a lively, energetic way.
- 3
To steal (cattle or other livestock).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Rustle in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | bruissement, froufrou , froufrouter |
| German | Rascheln, Rauschen, Knistern , rascheln, rauschen, knistern |
| Portuguese | farfalhar, frufru , frufrulhar |
| Spanish | crujido |
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 rustle come from?
From Middle English rustelen, russelen, of uncertain origin, but probably from Old English hrūxlian, hristlan, hrystlan, hristlian (“to make a noise”). Compare also Scots reesle (“to crackle; rattle; rustle”), West Frisian risselje, Dutch ritselen (“to rustle”), Afrikaans ritsel (“to rustle”), German rascheln (“to rustle”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).