How to pronounce germ
Say it like JURM. Germ 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 germ. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JURM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Germ pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JURMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of germ
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: jurm.
What does germ mean?
- The embryo of a seed, especially of a seed used as a cereal or grain. See Wikipedia article on cereal germ.
- The small mass of cells from which a part of an organism develops, or a macroscopic but immature form of that part; a bud.“surgical removal of germs of wisdom teeth”
- A pathogen: a pathogenic microorganism, such as a bacterium or virus.
- To germinate.
- To grow, as if parasitic.
Where does germ come from?
From Middle French germe, from Latin germen (“bud, seed, embryo”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with germ
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of germ.
Questions about saying germ
How do you pronounce germ?
Say JURM. The American pronunciation is /dʒɝm/. In British English it is /dʒɜːm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in germ?
Germ is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: JURM.
Is germ 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 /dʒɜːm/ (jurm).