How to pronounce murder
Say it like MUR-der. Murder 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 murder. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MUR
- der
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Murder 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.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of murder
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MUR-duh.
What does murder mean?
- kill intentionally and with premeditation“The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered”
- alter so as to make unrecognizable“The tourists murdered the French language”
- unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being
Where does murder come from?
(crows): Attested at least since 1475.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with murder
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of murder.
Questions about saying murder
How do you pronounce murder?
Say MUR-der. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɝdɚ/. In British English it is /ˈmɜːdə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in murder?
Murder has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MUR). Broken into parts: MUR · der.
Is murder 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 /ˈmɜːdə/ (MUR-duh).