How to pronounce ear
Say it like EER. Ear 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 ear. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EER
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ear pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of ear
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: EER.
Other ways to say ear
Ear also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- EER /ɪr/
What does ear mean?
- the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
- good hearing“he had a keen ear”“a good ear for pitch”
- the externally visible cartilaginous structure of the external ear
Where does ear come from?
Cognate with North Frisian uaar, uar, uur (“ear”), Saterland Frisian Oor (“ear”), West Frisian ear (“ear”), Alemannic German Oor (“ear”), Central Franconian Uhr (“ear”), Dutch oor (“ear”), German Ohr (“ear”), Low German Ohr, Oor, Or, our, U
Words that rhyme with ear
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ear.
Questions about saying ear
How do you pronounce ear?
Say EER. The American pronunciation is /ir/. In British English it is /ɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ear?
Ear is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: EER.
Is ear 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 /ɪə/ (EER).