How to pronounce lurch
Say it like LURCH. Lurch 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 lurch. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LURCH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lurch pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LURCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of lurch
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: LURCH.
What does lurch mean?
- To make such a sudden, unsteady movement.
- A sudden or unsteady movement.“the lurch of a ship, or of a drunkard”
- A predicament or difficult situation.“to leave someone in the lurch”
- An old game played with dice and counters; a variety of the game of tables.
- A double score in cribbage for the winner when their adversary has not yet pegged their 31st hole.
Where does lurch come from?
Originally a nautical term, found in lee-larches (“the sudden and violent rolls of a ship to the leeward in high seas”), of unknown origin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with lurch
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lurch.
Questions about saying lurch
How do you pronounce lurch?
Say LURCH. The American pronunciation is /lɝtʃ/. In British English it is /lɜːtʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lurch?
Lurch is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LURCH.
Is lurch 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 /lɜːtʃ/ (LURCH).