How to pronounce girth
Say it like GURTH. Girth is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- GURTH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Girth pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GURTHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of girth
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: GURTH.
What does girth mean?
- A band passed under the belly of an animal, which holds a saddle or a harness saddle in place.
- The part of an animal around which the girth fits.
- One's waistline circumference, most often a large one.
- To bind as if with a girth or band.
Where does girth come from?
From Middle English girth, gerth, gyrth, from Old Norse gjǫrð, from Proto-Germanic *gerdō, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰerdʰ- (“to encircle, enclose; belt”).
Words that rhyme with girth
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of girth.
Questions about saying girth
How do you pronounce girth?
Say GURTH. The American pronunciation is /ɡɝθ/. In British English it is /ɡɜːθ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in girth?
Girth is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: GURTH.
Is girth 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 /ɡɜːθ/ (GURTH).