How to pronounce encourage
Say it like en-KUR-rij. Encourage has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce encourage. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- en
- KUR
- rij
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Encourage pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- enKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- KURSay this part loudest and longest.
- rijKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of encourage
American and British speakers say encourage in essentially the same way: /ɛnˈkɜrɪdʒ/ in the US and /ɛnˈkʌrɪdʒ/ in the UK.
British respelling: en-KUHR-ij.
What does encourage mean?
- contribute to the progress or growth of“I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom”
- inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to
- spur on“His financial success encouraged him to look for a wife”
Where does encourage come from?
From Middle English encouragen, encoragen, from Anglo-Norman encoragier, from Old French encoragier.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with encourage
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of encourage.
Questions about saying encourage
How do you pronounce encourage?
Say en-KUR-rij. The American pronunciation is /ɛnˈkɜrɪdʒ/. In British English it is /ɛnˈkʌrɪdʒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in encourage?
Encourage has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KUR). Broken into parts: en · KUR · rij.
Do Americans and Brits say encourage the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɛnˈkɜrɪdʒ/ and the British form is /ɛnˈkʌrɪdʒ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.