How to pronounce burst
Say it like BURST. Burst 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 burst. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BURST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Burst pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BURSTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of burst
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BURST.
What does burst mean?
- come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure“The bubble burst”
- force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up“break into tears”“erupt in anger”
- burst outward, usually with noise“The champagne bottle exploded”
- the act of exploding or bursting“the explosion of the firecrackers awoke the children”“the burst of an atom bomb creates enormous radiation aloft”
- rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms“our fusillade from the left flank caught them by surprise”
- a sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason)“a burst of applause”“a fit of housecleaning”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with burst
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of burst.
Questions about saying burst
How do you pronounce burst?
Say BURST. The American pronunciation is /bɝst/. In British English it is /bɜːst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in burst?
Burst is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BURST.
Is burst 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 /bɜːst/ (BURST).