How to pronounce pern
Say it like PURN. Pern 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 pern. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PURN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pern pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PURNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of pern
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PURN.
What does pern mean?
- Part of a spinning wheel, a conical spool onto which the thread is wound from the spindle.
- A honey buzzard; Pernis apivorus.
Where does pern come from?
Presumably from a verb pern, a variant of preen, from Middle English prene; pernyng is read by some editors in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (v.
Words that rhyme with pern
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pern.
Questions about saying pern
How do you pronounce pern?
Say PURN. The American pronunciation is /pɝn/. In British English it is /pɜːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pern?
Pern is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PURN.
Is pern 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 /pɜːn/ (PURN).