How to pronounce berth
Say it like BURTH. Berth is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce berth. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BURTH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Berth pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BURTHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of berth
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BURTH.
What does berth mean?
- A place for a vessel to lie at anchor or to moor.
- A room in a vessel in which the officers or company mess (“eat together”) and reside; also, a room or other place in a vessel for storage.
- A place on a vessel to sleep, especially a bed on the side of a cabin.
- To bring (a ship or other vessel) into a berth (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1.1); also, to provide a berth for (a vessel).
- To use a device to bring (a spacecraft) into its berth or dock.
- To assign (someone) a berth (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1.3 or etymology 1, noun sense 2.2) or place to sleep on a vessel, a train, etc.
Where does berth come from?
The verb is derived from the noun.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with berth
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of berth.
Words that sound like berth
Questions about saying berth
How do you pronounce berth?
Say BURTH. The American pronunciation is /bɝθ/. In British English it is /bɜːθ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in berth?
Berth is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BURTH.
Is berth pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /bɜːθ/ (BURTH).
What words sound the same as berth?
Berth sounds the same as birth in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.