How to pronounce pier
Say it like PEER. Pier 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 pier. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PEER
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pier pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of pier
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PEER.
What does pier mean?
- a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
- (architecture) a vertical supporting structure (as a portion of wall between two doors or windows)
- a support for two adjacent bridge spans
Where does pier come from?
Inherited from Middle English pere (“bridge pillar, breakwater”), from either Anglo-Norman pere (“stone”, from Latin petra) or Old French *piere (Old Northern French pire, from either Late Latin *petricus or pēra "satchel"); compare Medieval Latin pira.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pier
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pier.
Words that sound like pier
Questions about saying pier
How do you pronounce pier?
Say PEER. The American pronunciation is /pɪr/. In British English it is /pɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pier?
Pier is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PEER.
Is pier 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 /pɪə/ (PEER).
What words sound the same as pier?
Pier sounds the same as peer in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.