How to pronounce occur
Say it like uh-KUR. Occur has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce occur. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- KUR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Occur pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- KURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of occur
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: uh-KUR.
What does occur mean?
- come to pass“What is happening?”“The meeting took place off without an incidence”
- come to one's mind; suggest itself“It occurred to me that we should hire another secretary”“A great idea then came to her”
- to be found to exist“sexism occurs in many workplaces”“precious stones occur in a large area in Brazil”
Where does occur come from?
Originally "meet (in argument)", borrowed from Middle French occurrer, from Latin occurrō (“run to meet, run against, befall, present itself”) from prefix ob- (“against”) + verb currō (“run, hurry, move”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with occur
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of occur.
Questions about saying occur
How do you pronounce occur?
Say uh-KUR. The American pronunciation is /əˈkɝ/. In British English it is /əˈkɜː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in occur?
Occur has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KUR). Broken into parts: uh · KUR.
Is occur 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 /əˈkɜː/ (uh-KUR).