How to pronounce mavourneen
Say it like muh-VOOR-neen. Mavourneen has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VOOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mavourneen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- muh
- VOOR
- neen
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mavourneen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VOORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- neenKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of mavourneen
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: muh-VOOR-neen.
What does mavourneen mean?
- darling, sweetheart
Where does mavourneen come from?
Hiberno-English, from Irish mo mhuirnín (“my darling”) (diminutive of muirn (“affection”)).
Questions about saying mavourneen
How do you pronounce mavourneen?
Say muh-VOOR-neen. The American pronunciation is /məˈvʊrnin/. In British English it is /məˈvʊəniːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mavourneen?
Mavourneen has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VOOR). Broken into parts: muh · VOOR · neen.
Is mavourneen 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 /məˈvʊəniːn/ (muh-VOOR-neen).