How to pronounce purse
Say it like PURS. Purse 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 purse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PURS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Purse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PURSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of purse
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PURS.
What does purse mean?
- a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)“she reached into her bag and found a comb”
- a sum of money spoken of as the contents of a money purse“he made the contribution out of his own purse”“he and his wife shared a common purse”
- a small bag for carrying money
- contract one's lips into a rounded shape
- gather or contract into wrinkles or folds; pucker“purse ones's lips”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with purse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of purse.
Questions about saying purse
How do you pronounce purse?
Say PURS. The American pronunciation is /pɝs/. In British English it is /pɜːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in purse?
Purse is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PURS.
Is purse 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 /pɜːs/ (PURS).