How to pronounce must
Say it like MUHST. Must is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce must. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MUHST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Must pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MUHSTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of must
American and British speakers say must in essentially the same way: /mʌst/ in the US and /mʌst/ in the UK.
British respelling: MUHST.
What does must mean?
- a necessary or essential thing“seat belts are an absolute must”
- grape juice before or during fermentation
- the quality of smelling or tasting old or stale or mouldy
- highly recommended“a book that is must reading”
Where does must come from?
From Middle English moste ("must", literally, "had to", the past tense of Middle English moten (“to have to”)), from Old English mōste (“had to”), 1st & 3rd person singular past tense of mōtan (“to be allowed, be able to, have the opportuni
Words that rhyme with must
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of must.
Questions about saying must
How do you pronounce must?
Say MUHST. The American pronunciation is /mʌst/. In British English it is /mʌst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in must?
Must is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: MUHST.
Do Americans and Brits say must the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /mʌst/ and the British form is /mʌst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.