How to pronounce kuru
Say it like KUUR-oo. Kuru has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kuru. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KUUR
- oo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kuru pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KUURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- ooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of kuru
American and British speakers say kuru in essentially the same way: /ˈkʊru/ in the US and /ˈkʊruː/ in the UK.
British respelling: KUUR-oo.
What does kuru mean?
- A chronic, progressive, fatal central nervous system disease found mainly among the Fore and neighboring peoples of New Guinea, caused by a prion that probably resembles the scrapie agent of sheep, transmissible to nonhuman primates, and believed to be transmitted by ritual cannibalism.
Where does kuru come from?
From Fore kúru (literally “trembling, shivering”).
Questions about saying kuru
How do you pronounce kuru?
Say KUUR-oo. The American pronunciation is /ˈkʊru/. In British English it is /ˈkʊruː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kuru?
Kuru has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUUR). Broken into parts: KUUR · oo.
Do Americans and Brits say kuru the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkʊru/ and the British form is /ˈkʊruː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.