How to pronounce suffer
Say it like SUHF-er. Suffer has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce suffer. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUHF
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Suffer pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SUHFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of suffer
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SUHF-uh.
What does suffer mean?
- undergo or be subjected to“He suffered the penalty”“Many saints suffered martyrdom”
- undergo (as of injuries and illnesses)“She suffered a fracture in the accident”“He had an insulin shock after eating three candy bars”
- experience (emotional) pain“Every time her husband gets drunk, she suffers”
Where does suffer come from?
From Middle English suffren, from Anglo-Norman suffrir, from Latin sufferre (“to offer, hold up, bear, suffer”), from sub- (“up, under”) + ferō (“to carry”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to bear, carry”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with suffer
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of suffer.
Questions about saying suffer
How do you pronounce suffer?
Say SUHF-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈsʌfɚ/. In British English it is /ˈsʌfə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in suffer?
Suffer has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHF). Broken into parts: SUHF · er.
Is suffer 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 /ˈsʌfə/ (SUHF-uh).