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DictionarydrawlSlow speech
noun / verb

drawl

DRAWL/drɔːl/

Speech that stretches out vowel sounds.

He speaks in a relaxed drawl that stretches every vowel.

A speaker lengthens the vowels in well now.
Etymology
drawOld Englishto draw, pull, protract
+lEnglishforceful or repeated action

Drawl may intensify draw, picturing speech as sounds pulled out at length. Alternatively, it may come from Dutch or Frisian verbs meaning “linger, delay”; the noun names the resulting slow manner of speaking.

In context

Storytime Haven86:04
informed Mr. and Mrs. Pendleton in a Cornish drawl
🌑 The Moon Rock 🌒 | A Haunting Tale of Mystery and Ambition by Arthur J. Rees

More examples

  • "Well, now," she drawled, taking her time with each word.
  • I recognize his voice by its familiar drawl.
  • She drawls her greetings but speaks quickly when she's excited.

Forms

drawl · drawls · drawled · drawling

Similar words

drone
Emphasizes a monotonous tone rather than stretched vowel sounds.