How to pronounce burn
Say it like BURN. Burn 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 burn. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BURN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Burn pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BURNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of burn
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BURN.
What does burn mean?
- destroy by fire“They burned the house and his diaries”
- shine intensely, as if with heat“The coals were glowing in the dark”“The candles were burning”
- undergo combustion“Maple wood burns well”
- pain that feels hot as if it were on fire
- a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
- an injury caused by exposure to heat or chemicals or radiation
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with burn
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of burn.
Questions about saying burn
How do you pronounce burn?
Say BURN. The American pronunciation is /bɝn/. In British English it is /bɜːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in burn?
Burn is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BURN.
Is burn 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 /bɜːn/ (BURN).