How to pronounce sir
Say it like SUR. Sir 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 sir. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sir 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.
American vs British pronunciation of sir
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SUR.
What does sir mean?
- term of address for a man
- a title used before the name of knight or baronet
Where does sir come from?
From Middle English sir, unstressed form of sire, borrowed from Old French sire (“master, sir, lord”), from Latin senior (“older, elder”), from senex (“old”).
Words that rhyme with sir
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sir.
Questions about saying sir
How do you pronounce sir?
Say SUR. The American pronunciation is /sɝ/. In British English it is /sɜː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sir?
Sir is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SUR.
Is sir 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 /sɜː/ (SUR).