How to pronounce hamburger
Say it like HAM-ber-gher. Hamburger has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hamburger. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAM
- ber
- gher
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hamburger pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HAMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- berKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- gherKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of hamburger
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HAM-bur-guh.
What does hamburger mean?
- A hot sandwich consisting of a patty of cooked ground beef or a meat substitute, in a sliced bun, usually also containing salad vegetables, condiments, or both.
- The patty used in such a sandwich.
- Ground beef, especially that intended to be made into hamburgers.
- To badly injure or damage (a fleshy part of the body).
Where does hamburger come from?
Shortening of Hamburger sandwich, Hamburger steak, etc., the first element borrowed from German Hamburger (“native of Hamburg”), equivalent to Hamburg + -er.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying hamburger
How do you pronounce hamburger?
Say HAM-ber-gher. The American pronunciation is /ˈhæmbɚɡɚ/. In British English it is /ˈhæmˌbɜːɡə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hamburger?
Hamburger has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAM). Broken into parts: HAM · ber · gher.
Is hamburger 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 /ˈhæmˌbɜːɡə/ (HAM-bur-guh).