How to pronounce furniture
Say it like FUR-nih-cher. Furniture has three 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 furniture. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FUR
- nih
- cher
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Furniture 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.
- nihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- cherKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of furniture
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FUR-nih-chuh.
What does furniture mean?
- furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy“they had too much furniture for the small apartment”“there was only one piece of furniture in the room”
Where does furniture come from?
From Middle French fourniture (“a supply, or the act of furnishing”), from fournir (“to furnish”).
Questions about saying furniture
How do you pronounce furniture?
Say FUR-nih-cher. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɝnɪtʃɚ/. In British English it is /ˈfɜːnɪtʃə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in furniture?
Furniture has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FUR). Broken into parts: FUR · nih · cher.
Is furniture 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 /ˈfɜːnɪtʃə/ (FUR-nih-chuh).