How to pronounce nervous
Say it like NUR-vus. Nervous has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nervous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NUR
- vus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nervous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- vusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of nervous
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: NUR-vus.
What does nervous mean?
- easily agitated“a nervous addict”“a nervous thoroughbred”
- causing or fraught with or showing anxiety“spent an anxious night waiting for the test results”“cast anxious glances behind her”
- of or relating to the nervous system“nervous disease”“neural disorder”
Where does nervous come from?
From Middle English nervous (“composed of or incorporating nerves”), from Latin nervōsus (“nervous; sinewy; energetic, vigorous”), from nervus (“nerve; muscle; sinew, tendon; (figuratively) energy, power; nerve; force, strength, vigor”) (u
Words that rhyme with nervous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nervous.
Questions about saying nervous
How do you pronounce nervous?
Say NUR-vus. The American pronunciation is /ˈnɝvəs/. In British English it is /ˈnɜːvəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nervous?
Nervous has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NUR). Broken into parts: NUR · vus.
Is nervous 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 /ˈnɜːvəs/ (NUR-vus).