How to pronounce sermon
Say it like SUR-mun. Sermon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sermon. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUR
- mun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sermon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- munKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sermon
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SUR-mun.
What does sermon mean?
- an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)
- a moralistic rebuke“your preaching is wasted on him”
Where does sermon come from?
From Middle English sermoun, from Anglo-Norman sermun and/or Old French sermon, from Latin sermō, sermōnem, from Proto-Indo-European *sermō, from *ser- (“to bind”) + *-mō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with sermon
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sermon.
Questions about saying sermon
How do you pronounce sermon?
Say SUR-mun. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɝmən/. In British English it is /ˈsɜːmən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sermon?
Sermon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUR). Broken into parts: SUR · mun.
Is sermon 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 /ˈsɜːmən/ (SUR-mun).