How to pronounce dirt
Say it like DURT. Dirt 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 dirt. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DURT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dirt pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DURTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of dirt
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: DURT.
What does dirt mean?
- the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
- the state of being covered with unclean things
- disgraceful gossip about the private lives of other people
- (of roads) not leveled or drained; unsuitable for all year travel
Where does dirt come from?
The word originally referred to excrement before shifting to the current sense of "soil".
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with dirt
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dirt.
Questions about saying dirt
How do you pronounce dirt?
Say DURT. The American pronunciation is /dɝt/. In British English it is /dɜːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dirt?
Dirt is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DURT.
Is dirt 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 /dɜːt/ (DURT).