ShortMeaning, pronunciation & vowel sounds
Treacle Meaning & Pronunciation
/ˈtriːkəl/ · noun
Treacle is a thick, sticky, dark syrup made during sugar refining. It is mainly a British English word; the closest American equivalent is molasses.
How to say it
How to pronounce treacle
treacle
The vowel breakdown
Vowel sounds in treacle
Each vowel sound below shows the letters that spell it, the sound they make, and the phonics pattern behind it.
The final -cle is a stable syllable. The e is silent and the vowel is a weak /ə/, as in table and little.
Practise this pattern →Consonant notes
A consonant blend: keep both sounds, /t/ then /r/.
Hard C, because it is followed by l rather than e, i, or y.
Definition
What does treacle mean?
A thick, dark, sticky syrup produced when sugar is refined, also called black treacle.
“She drizzled warm treacle over the sponge pudding.”
A lighter, golden syrup used in baking, often sold as golden syrup or light treacle.
“Treacle tart is traditionally made with golden syrup and breadcrumbs.”
Word forms: treacle · treacly (adjective)
The adjective treacly describes something overly sweet or sentimental, as in a treacly love song.
Where it comes from
Origin of treacle
Treacle comes from Old French triacle, from Latin theriaca, meaning an antidote for poison or snakebite. Over time the word came to mean the sweet syrup used in such preparations.
Similar words
Frequently asked questions
What does treacle mean?
Treacle is a thick, dark, sticky syrup made during sugar refining. In British English it also covers lighter golden syrup used in baking.
How do you pronounce treacle?
Treacle is pronounced /ˈtriːkəl/, or TREE-kul. The first syllable sounds like the word tree, and the ending is a weak -kul.
Is treacle the same as molasses?
They are very similar. Black treacle is often a blend of molasses and refined sugar syrup, so it is usually milder and sweeter than plain molasses. Golden syrup has no exact American equivalent.
What vowel sounds are in treacle?
Treacle has a long E sound, spelled ea, in the first syllable, and a weak schwa sound in the final -cle syllable.