How to pronounce bur
Say it like BUR. Bur 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 bur. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BUR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bur pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of bur
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BUR.
What does bur mean?
- A rough, prickly husk around the seeds or fruit of some plants.
- Any of several plants having such husks.
- A rotary cutting implement having a selection of variously shaped heads.
Where does bur come from?
From Middle English burre, of unknown origin but probably from North Germanic (Scandinavian) source or from Old English byrst (“bristle”).
Words that rhyme with bur
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bur.
Words that sound like bur
Questions about saying bur
How do you pronounce bur?
Say BUR. The American pronunciation is /bɝ/. In British English it is /bɜː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bur?
Bur is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BUR.
Is bur 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 /bɜː/ (BUR).
What words sound the same as bur?
Bur sounds the same as burr in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.