How to pronounce mercurial
Say it like mur-KYUUR-ee-ul. Mercurial has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KYUUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mercurial. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- mur
- KYUUR
- ee
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mercurial pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- murKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- KYUURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of mercurial
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: muh-KYOOR-ih-ul.
What does mercurial mean?
- A person born under the influence of the planet Mercury; hence, a person having an eloquent, quickwitted, furtive, or volatile character.
- A chemical compound containing mercury.
- Having a lively or volatile character; animated, changeable, quick-witted.“his mercurial temperament”
- Pertaining to the astrological influence of the planet Mercury; having the characteristics of a person under such influence (see adjective sense 1).
- Pertaining to the planet Mercury.
Where does mercurial come from?
Later adjective and noun uses may have been directly derived from Latin mercuriālis (adjective), whence Middle English mercurial (“under the astrological influence of the planet Mercury”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying mercurial
How do you pronounce mercurial?
Say mur-KYUUR-ee-ul. The American pronunciation is /mɝˈkjʊriəl/. In British English it is /məˈkjʊərɪəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mercurial?
Mercurial has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KYUUR). Broken into parts: mur · KYUUR · ee · ul.
Is mercurial 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 /məˈkjʊərɪəl/ (muh-KYOOR-ih-ul).