How to pronounce moorhen
Say it like MOOR-hen. Moorhen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce moorhen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOOR
- hen
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Moorhen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MOORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- henGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of moorhen
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MOORR-hen.
What does moorhen mean?
- Any of various medium-sized water birds of the genus Gallinula, of the rail family, that feed in open water margins.
- A female red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scotica.
Where does moorhen come from?
From Middle English morhen, perhaps from Old English *mōrhenn, an alteration of Old English worhenn (compare coordinate masculine term mōrhana, a possible corruption of worhana (“pheasant”)), equivalent to moor + hen.
Questions about saying moorhen
How do you pronounce moorhen?
Say MOOR-hen. The American pronunciation is /ˈmʊrˌhɛn/. In British English it is /ˈmʊərˌhɛn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in moorhen?
Moorhen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOOR). Broken into parts: MOOR · hen.
Is moorhen 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 /ˈmʊərˌhɛn/ (MOORR-hen).