owl or owel

[randomsugar]

A friend of mine seems to think that the word owl is prenounced "owel" or if this helps, like vowel without the "v". However I think its prenounced as its spelt. Any thoughts ?

[IndieSinger]

The standard pronounciation (rendered in internet-form) is [aUl] which is closer to your version than that of your friend.

[j2buttonsw]

Is your friend Welsh?

[New Forester]

Like other pronunciation it will vary with dialect and individual mannerisms. There is often not a "right" way. Standard pronunciation is not right, just easier for foreigners... Some dialects and some individuals have a tendency to put in extra syllables -- for example, the Irish English pronunciation of "film" as "fillum". Again, not wrong, just different. It can even change the word itself. Originally "bird" was "brid". This presumably became "burrid" (much as many Scots still say). Then the second syllable got dropped and brid became bird. At one time medieval parents were telling their kids off for not pronouncing brid properly...