How to pronounce merchant
Say it like MUR-chunt. Merchant has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce merchant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MUR
- chunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Merchant pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- chuntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of merchant
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MUR-chunt.
What does merchant mean?
- a businessperson engaged in retail trade
Where does merchant come from?
From Middle English marchaunt, from Anglo-Norman marchaunt, from mercans, from the verb mercor (“to trade, deal, sell”).
Questions about saying merchant
How do you pronounce merchant?
Say MUR-chunt. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɝtʃənt/. In British English it is /ˈmɜːtʃənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in merchant?
Merchant has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MUR). Broken into parts: MUR · chunt.
Is merchant 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 /ˈmɜːtʃənt/ (MUR-chunt).