How to pronounce birse
Say it like BURS. Birse 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 birse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BURS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Birse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BURSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of birse
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BURS.
What does birse mean?
- bristle
Where does birse come from?
Borrowed from Scots birse (“bristle, hair”).
Words that rhyme with birse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of birse.
Questions about saying birse
How do you pronounce birse?
Say BURS. The American pronunciation is /bɝs/. In British English it is /bɜːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in birse?
Birse is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BURS.
Is birse 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 /bɜːs/ (BURS).