How to pronounce furlong
Say it like FUR-lawng. Furlong has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce furlong. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FUR
- lawng
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Furlong 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.
- lawngGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of furlong
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FUR-long.
What does furlong mean?
- A unit of distance equal to one-eighth of a mile (220 yards, or 201.168 metres), now mainly used in measuring distances in farmland and horse racing.
- A unit of land area one furlong (sense 1) square (ten acres, or about four hectares).
Where does furlong come from?
From Middle English furlong, forlong (“unit of distance about one-eighth of a mile; quantity of land equal to one square furlong; racetrack for foot races; foot race”) [and other forms], from Old English furlang, furlung, from furh (“a furr
Questions about saying furlong
How do you pronounce furlong?
Say FUR-lawng. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɝˌlɔŋ/. In British English it is /ˈfɜːlɒŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in furlong?
Furlong has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FUR). Broken into parts: FUR · lawng.
Is furlong 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 /ˈfɜːlɒŋ/ (FUR-long).