How to pronounce girlfriend
Say it like GURL-frend. Girlfriend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GURL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce girlfriend. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GURL
- frend
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Girlfriend pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GURLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- frendGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of girlfriend
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: GURL-frend.
What does girlfriend mean?
- any female friend“Mary and her girlfriend organized the party”
- a girl or young woman with whom a man is romantically involved“his girlfriend kicked him out”
Where does girlfriend come from?
From girl + friend.
Questions about saying girlfriend
How do you pronounce girlfriend?
Say GURL-frend. The American pronunciation is /ˈɡɝlˌfrɛnd/. In British English it is /ˈɡɜːlˌfrɛnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in girlfriend?
Girlfriend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GURL). Broken into parts: GURL · frend.
Is girlfriend 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 /ˈɡɜːlˌfrɛnd/ (GURL-frend).