How to pronounce merman
Say it like MUR-man. Merman 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 merman. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MUR
- man
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Merman 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.
- manGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of merman
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MUR-man.
What does merman mean?
- A legendary creature, human male from the waist up, fishlike from the waist down.
Where does merman come from?
From Middle English mereman, from Old English *meremann (“merman”) (suggested by Old English meremenn, meremennen, meremenin (“mermaid, siren”)), equivalent to mer- + man.
Questions about saying merman
How do you pronounce merman?
Say MUR-man. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɝˌmæn/. In British English it is /ˈmɜːˌmæn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in merman?
Merman has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MUR). Broken into parts: MUR · man.
Is merman 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 /ˈmɜːˌmæn/ (MUR-man).