How to pronounce nurse
Say it like NURS. Nurse 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 nurse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NURS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nurse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NURSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of nurse
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: NURS.
What does nurse mean?
- one skilled in caring for young children or the sick (usually under the supervision of a physician)
- a woman who is the custodian of children
- try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury“He nursed his cold with Chinese herbs”
- maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)“bear a grudge”“entertain interesting notions”
- serve as a nurse; care for sick or handicapped people
Where does nurse come from?
From Middle English norice, from Old French norrice, from Late Latin nūtrīcia, noun based on Latin nūtrīcius (“that which nourishes”), from nūtrīx (“wet nurse”), from nūtriō (“to suckle”).
Words that rhyme with nurse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nurse.
Questions about saying nurse
How do you pronounce nurse?
Say NURS. The American pronunciation is /nɝs/. In British English it is /nɜːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nurse?
Nurse is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NURS.
Is nurse 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 /nɜːs/ (NURS).