How to pronounce parch
Say it like PARCH. Parch 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 parch. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PARCH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Parch pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PARCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of parch
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PAHCH.
What does parch mean?
- To burn the surface of, to scorch.“The sun today could parch cement.”
- To roast, as dry grain.
- To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat.“The patient’s mouth is parched from fever.”
- The condition of being parched.
Where does parch come from?
From Middle English parchen, paarchen (“to parch; dry; roast”), of uncertain origin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with parch
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of parch.
Questions about saying parch
How do you pronounce parch?
Say PARCH. The American pronunciation is /pɑrtʃ/. In British English it is /pɑːtʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in parch?
Parch is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PARCH.
Is parch 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 /pɑːtʃ/ (PAHCH).