How to pronounce stir
Say it like STUR. Stir 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 stir. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STUR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stir pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of stir
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: STUR.
What does stir mean?
- move an implement through“stir the soup”“stir my drink”
- move very slightly“He shifted in his seat”
- stir feelings in“stimulate my appetite”“excite the audience”
- a prominent or sensational but short-lived news event“he made a great splash and then disappeared”
- emotional agitation and excitement
- a rapid active commotion
Where does stir come from?
From Middle English stiren, sturien, steren, from Old English styrian (“to be in motion, move, agitate, stir, disturb, trouble”), from Proto-Germanic *sturiz (“turmoil, noise, confusion”), related to Proto-West Germanic *staurijan (“to destroy, disturb”).
Words that rhyme with stir
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of stir.
Questions about saying stir
How do you pronounce stir?
Say STUR. The American pronunciation is /stɝ/. In British English it is /stɜː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in stir?
Stir is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STUR.
Is stir 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 /stɜː/ (STUR).