How to pronounce murmur
Say it like MUR-mer. Murmur 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 murmur. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MUR
- mer
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Murmur 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.
- merKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of murmur
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MUR-muh.
What does murmur mean?
- Any low, indistinct sound, like that of running water.
- Soft indistinct speech.“A murmur arose from the audience.”
- The sound made by any condition which produces a noisy, or turbulent, flow of blood through the heart.
- To speak or make low, indistinguishable noise; to mumble, mutter.“I couldn't hear the words; he just murmured a lot.”
- To say (something) indistinctly, to mutter.
Where does murmur come from?
From Middle English murmur, murmor, murmour, from Old French murmure (modern French murmure), from Latin murmur (“murmur, humming, muttering, roaring, growling, rushing etc.”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying murmur
How do you pronounce murmur?
Say MUR-mer. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɝmɚ/. In British English it is /ˈmɜːmə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in murmur?
Murmur has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MUR). Broken into parts: MUR · mer.
Is murmur 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 /ˈmɜːmə/ (MUR-muh).