How to pronounce irk
Say it like URK. Irk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce irk. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- URK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Irk pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- URKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of irk
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: URK.
What does irk mean?
- to irritate; annoy; bother“It irks me doing all this work and have someone wreck it.”
- An annoyance.
Where does irk come from?
Inherited from Middle English irken (“to tire, grow weary”), from Old Norse yrkja (“to work”), from Proto-Germanic *wurkijaną (“to work”), from Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- (“to work”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with irk
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of irk.
Questions about saying irk
How do you pronounce irk?
Say URK. The American pronunciation is /ɝk/. In British English it is /ɜːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in irk?
Irk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: URK.
Is irk 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 /ɜːk/ (URK).