The word "eorle" is an Old English term meaning "nobleman." Its spelling is derived from the Old English alphabet, which used different letters than the modern English alphabet. In IPA phonetic transcription, "eorle" would be written as ˈeɔrlə, with a long "e" sound, followed by the diphthong "o." The second syllable is pronounced with a short "u" sound and a schwa. The final "e" is silent, a common characteristic of Old English words.