How to pronounce scourge
Say it like SKURJ. Scourge 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 scourge. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKURJ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Scourge pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKURJSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of scourge
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SKURJ.
What does scourge mean?
- A person or thing regarded as an agent of divine punishment.
- A source of persistent (and often widespread) pain and suffering or trouble, such as a cruel ruler, disease, pestilence, or war.“Graffiti is the scourge of building owners everywhere.”
- To strike (a person, an animal, etc.) with a scourge (noun etymology 1 sense 1) or whip; to flog, to whip.
- To drive, or force (a person, an animal, etc.) to move, with or as if with a scourge or whip.
- To punish (a person, an animal, etc.); to chastise.
Where does scourge come from?
Italian scuriada, scuriata
Words that rhyme with scourge
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of scourge.
Questions about saying scourge
How do you pronounce scourge?
Say SKURJ. The American pronunciation is /skɝdʒ/. In British English it is /skɜːdʒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in scourge?
Scourge is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SKURJ.
Is scourge 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 /skɜːdʒ/ (SKURJ).