How to pronounce eager
Say it like EE-gher. Eager has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce eager. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EE
- gher
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Eager pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- gherKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of eager
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: EE-guh.
What does eager mean?
- having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy“eager to learn”“eager to travel abroad”
- a high wave (often dangerous) caused by tidal flow (as by colliding tidal currents or in a narrow estuary)
Where does eager come from?
Inherited from Middle English egre, eger, from Old French aigre, egre (modern French aigre), from Latin ācrus, variant of ācer (“sharp, keen”); see acid, acerb, etc.
Questions about saying eager
How do you pronounce eager?
Say EE-gher. The American pronunciation is /ˈiɡɚ/. In British English it is /ˈiːɡə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in eager?
Eager has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EE). Broken into parts: EE · gher.
Is eager 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 /ˈiːɡə/ (EE-guh).