How to pronounce guru
Say it like GOO-roo. Guru has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce guru. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GOO
- roo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Guru pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- rooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of guru
American and British speakers say guru in essentially the same way: /ˈɡuˌru/ in the US and /ˈɡuːˌruː/ in the UK.
British respelling: GOO-roo.
What does guru mean?
- a Hindu or Buddhist religious leader and spiritual teacher
- each of the first ten leaders of the Sikh religion
- a recognized leader in some field or of some movement“a guru of genomics”
Questions about saying guru
How do you pronounce guru?
Say GOO-roo. The American pronunciation is /ˈɡuˌru/. In British English it is /ˈɡuːˌruː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in guru?
Guru has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GOO). Broken into parts: GOO · roo.
Do Americans and Brits say guru the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɡuˌru/ and the British form is /ˈɡuːˌruː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.