How to pronounce spur
Say it like SPUR. Spur 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 spur. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPUR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spur pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of spur
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SPUR.
What does spur mean?
- a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something“the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves”
- any sharply pointed projection
- tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers
- incite or stimulate“The Academy was formed to spur research”
- give heart or courage to
- strike with a spur
Where does spur come from?
From Middle English spure, spore, from Old English spora, spura, from Proto-West Germanic *spurō, from Proto-Germanic *spurô, from Proto-Indo-European *sperH- (“to kick”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with spur
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of spur.
Questions about saying spur
How do you pronounce spur?
Say SPUR. The American pronunciation is /spɝ/. In British English it is /spɜː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spur?
Spur is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SPUR.
Is spur 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 /spɜː/ (SPUR).