How to pronounce preferred
Say it like pruh-FURD. Preferred has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FURD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce preferred. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pruh
- FURD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Preferred pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- FURDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of preferred
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: prih-FURD.
What does preferred mean?
- more desirable than another“coffee is preferable to tea”“Danny's preferred name is `Dan'”
- preferred above all others and treated with partiality“the favored child”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with preferred
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of preferred.
Questions about saying preferred
How do you pronounce preferred?
Say pruh-FURD. The American pronunciation is /prəˈfɝd/. In British English it is /prɪˈfɜːd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in preferred?
Preferred has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FURD). Broken into parts: pruh · FURD.
Is preferred 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 /prɪˈfɜːd/ (prih-FURD).