How to pronounce fur
Say it like FUR. Fur 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 fur. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FUR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fur 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 fur
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FUR.
What does fur mean?
- the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
- dense coat of fine silky hairs on mammals (e.g., cat or seal or weasel)
- a garment made of animal pelts or synthetic fur
Where does fur come from?
The verb is from Middle English furren, from Anglo-Norman furrer, forrer, fourrer (“to line, stuff, fill”), from the noun.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with fur
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of fur.
Words that sound like fur
Questions about saying fur
How do you pronounce fur?
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 fur?
Fur is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FUR.
Is fur 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 fur?
Fur sounds the same as fir in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.