How to pronounce dirk
Say it like DURK. Dirk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- DURK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dirk pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DURKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of dirk
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: DURK.
What does dirk mean?
- A long Scottish dagger with a straight blade.
- A ceremonial dagger worn by naval or air force officers in some nations' militaries; formerly, a fighting dagger used by sailors as a boarding weapon.
- To stab with a dirk.
- A socially unacceptable person; an oddball.
Where does dirk come from?
A possible derivation is from the North Germanic/Scandinavian personal name Dirk (short for Diederik), which is used of lock-picking tools (but not of knives or daggers).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with dirk
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dirk.
Questions about saying dirk
How do you pronounce dirk?
Say DURK. The American pronunciation is /dɝk/. In British English it is /dɜːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dirk?
Dirk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DURK.
Is dirk 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 /dɜːk/ (DURK).