How to pronounce murmuration
Say it like mur-muh-RAY-shun. Murmuration has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce murmuration. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- mur
- muh
- RAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Murmuration pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- murGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of murmuration
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: mur-muh-RAY-shun.
What does murmuration mean?
- An act or instance of murmuring.
- A flock of starlings, in particular when swarming in swirling patterns.
- An emergent order in a multi-agent social system.
Where does murmuration come from?
1350–1400; Medieval Latin murmuratio (“murmuring, grumbling”), equivalent to murmur + -ation.
Words that rhyme with murmuration
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of murmuration.
Questions about saying murmuration
How do you pronounce murmuration?
Say mur-muh-RAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌmɝməˈreɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌmɜːməˈreɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in murmuration?
Murmuration has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RAY). Broken into parts: mur · muh · RAY · shun.
Is murmuration 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 /ˌmɜːməˈreɪʃən/ (mur-muh-RAY-shun).