How to pronounce labour
Say it like LAY-ber. Labour has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce labour. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAY
- ber
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Labour pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- berKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of labour
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: LAY-buh.
What does labour mean?
- a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages“there is a shortage of skilled labor in this field”
- concluding state of pregnancy; from the onset of contractions to the birth of a child“she was in labor for six hours”
- a political party formed in Great Britain in 1900; characterized by the promotion of labor's interests and formerly the socialization of key industries
- work hard“She was digging away at her math homework”“Lexicographers drudge all day long”
- strive and make an effort to reach a goal“She tugged for years to make a decent living”“We have to push a little to make the deadline!”
- undergo the efforts of childbirth
Where does labour come from?
From Middle English labor, labor, labur, from Old French labor (modern labeur) and its etymon, Latin labor.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with labour
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of labour.
Words that sound like labour
Questions about saying labour
How do you pronounce labour?
Say LAY-ber. The American pronunciation is /ˈleɪbɚ/. In British English it is /ˈleɪbə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in labour?
Labour has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAY). Broken into parts: LAY · ber.
Is labour 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 /ˈleɪbə/ (LAY-buh).
What words sound the same as labour?
Labour sounds the same as labor in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.