How to pronounce mirth
Say it like MURTH. Mirth is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- MURTH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mirth pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MURTHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of mirth
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MURTH.
What does mirth mean?
- The emotion usually following humor and accompanied by laughter.
- That which causes merriment.
Where does mirth come from?
From Middle English merth, myrthe, murhthe, from Old English myrgþ (“mirth, joy”), from Proto-West Germanic *murgiþu (“briefness, brevity”); equivalent to merry + -th (abstract nominal suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with mirth
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mirth.
Questions about saying mirth
How do you pronounce mirth?
Say MURTH. The American pronunciation is /mɝθ/. In British English it is /mɜːθ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mirth?
Mirth is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: MURTH.
Is mirth 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 /mɜːθ/ (MURTH).