How to pronounce hunger
Say it like HUHNG-gher. Hunger has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HUHNG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hunger. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HUHNG
- gher
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hunger pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HUHNGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- gherKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of hunger
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HUHNG-guh.
What does hunger mean?
- a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
- strong desire for something (not food or drink)“a thirst for knowledge”“hunger for affection”
- feel the need to eat
- have a craving, appetite, or great desire for
- be hungry; go without food“Let's eat--I'm starving!”
Where does hunger come from?
Cognate with West Frisian honger, hûnger (“hunger”), Dutch honger (“hunger”), German Low German Hunger (“hunger”), German Hunger (“hunger”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish hunger (“hunger”), Faroese and Icelandic hungur (“hunger”).
Words that rhyme with hunger
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hunger.
Questions about saying hunger
How do you pronounce hunger?
Say HUHNG-gher. The American pronunciation is /ˈhʌŋɡɚ/. In British English it is /ˈhʌŋɡə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hunger?
Hunger has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HUHNG). Broken into parts: HUHNG · gher.
Is hunger 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 /ˈhʌŋɡə/ (HUHNG-guh).