How to pronounce mercury
Say it like MUR-kyuh-ree. Mercury has three 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 mercury. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MUR
- kyuh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mercury 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.
- kyuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of mercury
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MUR-kyuh-ree.
What does mercury mean?
- a heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures
- (Roman mythology) messenger of Jupiter and god of commerce; counterpart of Greek Hermes
- the smallest planet and the nearest to the sun
Where does mercury come from?
The verb is derived from the noun.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying mercury
How do you pronounce mercury?
Say MUR-kyuh-ree. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɝkjəri/. In British English it is /ˈmɜːkjʊri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mercury?
Mercury has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MUR). Broken into parts: MUR · kyuh · ree.
Is mercury 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 /ˈmɜːkjʊri/ (MUR-kyuh-ree).