How to pronounce church
Say it like CHURCH. Church 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 church. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- CHURCH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Church pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHURCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of church
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: CHURCH.
What does church mean?
- one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
- a place for public (especially Christian) worship“the church was empty”
- a service conducted in a house of worship“don't be late for church”
- perform a special church rite or service for“church a woman after childbirth”
Where does church come from?
For vowel evolution, see bury.
Words that rhyme with church
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of church.
Questions about saying church
How do you pronounce church?
Say CHURCH. The American pronunciation is /tʃɝtʃ/. In British English it is /tʃɜːtʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in church?
Church is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: CHURCH.
Is church 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 /tʃɜːtʃ/ (CHURCH).