How to pronounce hours
Say it like OW-erz. Hours has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hours. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OW
- erz
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hours pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- erzKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of hours
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: OW-uz.
What does hours mean?
- a period of time assigned for work“they work long hours”
- an indefinite period of time“they talked for hours”
Words that rhyme with hours
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hours.
Questions about saying hours
How do you pronounce hours?
Say OW-erz. The American pronunciation is /ˈaʊɚz/. In British English it is /ˈaʊəz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hours?
Hours has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OW). Broken into parts: OW · erz.
Is hours 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 /ˈaʊəz/ (OW-uz).