How to pronounce briar
Say it like BRY-er. Briar has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce briar. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BRY
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Briar pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BRYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of briar
- American English uses 2 syllables and British English 1.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BRY.
What does briar mean?
- Any of many plants with thorny stems growing in dense clusters, such as many in the Rosa, Rubus, and Smilax genera.
- Anything that is sharp or unpleasant to the feelings.
- Tree heath (Erica arborea), a thorny Mediterranean shrub.
- A pipe for smoking, made from the roots of that shrub.
Where does briar come from?
From Middle English brere, from Old English brēr [Old Mercian], brǣr (“briar, bramble”); further origin unknown, perhaps related to Old French bruiere (“heather”) (French bruyère).
Words that rhyme with briar
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of briar.
Questions about saying briar
How do you pronounce briar?
Say BRY-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈbraɪɚ/. In British English it is /braɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in briar?
Briar has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRY). Broken into parts: BRY · er.
Is briar pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 2 syllables and British English 1. The British form is /braɪ/ (BRY).