[General] How do you pronounce "Noel"?

[EngFan]

Hi All,

I always hear people say Noel as Nowel with "w" sound, why?

EngFan

 

[5jj]

A slight /w/ comes in the glide from the /əʊ/ to the /e/ or /ə/ for some speakers. This /w/ is far more common and more pronounced in the word meaning 'Christmas'.

 

[EngFan]

Thank you for your answer. If don't speak the "w" sound for Noel, is it still natural and correct?
By the way, I also hear people/talking dictionaries say "koala" as "kowala" with "w" sound, I am very confused with this "w" as I can't see this sound in the phonetic symbol, pls advise!

 

[5jj]

When a syllable ends in /i:/ or /ɪ/ and is followed by by a vowel, most speakers introduce a linking /j/. When a syllable ends in /u:/ or /ʊ/ followed by a vowel, most speakers introduce a linking /w/. These linking sounds are not obligatory (indeed, most speakers are not aware that they use them), and are not normally noted in phonemic transcriptions. They are noted in phonetic transcription.

 

[Tdol]

For Christmas, it's often written Noël, the dots above the letter e marking that we pronounce the vowels separately.