How to pronounce fir
Say it like FUR. Fir 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 fir. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FUR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fir pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of fir
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FUR.
What does fir mean?
- A conifer of the genus Abies.
- Any pinaceous conifer of related genera, especially a Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga) or a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris).
- Wood of such trees.
Where does fir come from?
Germanic cognates include Dutch vuren, Low German Fuhr, German Föhre (“pine”), Danish fyr).
Words that rhyme with fir
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of fir.
Words that sound like fir
Questions about saying fir
How do you pronounce fir?
Say FUR. The American pronunciation is /fɝ/. In British English it is /fɜː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fir?
Fir is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FUR.
Is fir 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 /fɜː/ (FUR).
What words sound the same as fir?
Fir sounds the same as fur in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.