How to pronounce canker
Say it like KANG-ker. Canker has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KANG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce canker. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KANG
- ker
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Canker pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KANGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- kerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of canker
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KANG-kuh.
What does canker mean?
- A plant disease marked by gradual decay.
- A region of dead plant tissue caused by such a disease.
- A worm or grub that destroys plant buds or leaves; cankerworm.
- To affect as a canker; to eat away; to corrode; to consume.
- To infect or pollute; to corrupt.
- To waste away, grow rusty, or be oxidized, as a mineral.
Where does canker come from?
From Middle English canker, cancre, from Old English cancer (“cancer; crab”), akin to Dutch kanker, Old High German chanchar.
Words that rhyme with canker
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of canker.
Questions about saying canker
How do you pronounce canker?
Say KANG-ker. The American pronunciation is /ˈkæŋkɚ/. In British English it is /ˈkæŋkə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in canker?
Canker has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KANG). Broken into parts: KANG · ker.
Is canker 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 /ˈkæŋkə/ (KANG-kuh).