How to pronounce herb
Say it like URB. Herb is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- URB
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Americans drop the h ('urb'); Britons pronounce it ('hurb').
Herb pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- URBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of herb
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HURB.
What does herb mean?
- A plant whose stem is not woody and does not persist beyond each growing season.
- Any green, leafy plant, or parts thereof, used to flavour or season food.
- A plant whose roots, leaves or seeds, etc. are used in medicine.“If any medicinal herbs used by witches were supposedly evil, then how come people from at least the past benefited from the healing properties of such herbs?”
Where does herb come from?
From Middle English herbe, erbe, from Old French erbe (French herbe), from Latin herba.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with herb
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of herb.
Questions about saying herb
How do you pronounce herb?
Say URB. The American pronunciation is /ɝb/. In British English it is /hɜːb/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in herb?
Herb is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: URB.
Is herb 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 /hɜːb/ (HURB).