How to pronounce harbor
Say it like HAR-ber. Harbor has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce harbor. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAR
- ber
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Harbor pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- berKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of harbor
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HAH-buh.
What does harbor mean?
- maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)“bear a grudge”“entertain interesting notions”
- secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
- keep in one's possession; of animals
- a sheltered port where ships can take on or discharge cargo
- a place of refuge and comfort and security
Where does harbor come from?
From Middle English herberwe, herber, from Old English herebeorg (“shelter, lodgings, quarters”), from Proto-West Germanic *harjabergu (“army shelter, refuge”), from *harjaz (“army”) + *bergō (“protection”), equivalent to Old English here (
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with harbor
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of harbor.
Words that sound like harbor
Questions about saying harbor
How do you pronounce harbor?
Say HAR-ber. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɑrbɚ/. In British English it is /ˈhɑːbə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in harbor?
Harbor has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAR). Broken into parts: HAR · ber.
Is harbor 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 /ˈhɑːbə/ (HAH-buh).
What words sound the same as harbor?
Harbor sounds the same as harbour in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.