How to pronounce urban
Say it like UR-bun. Urban has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce urban. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- UR
- bun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Urban pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- URSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- bunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of urban
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: UR-bun.
What does urban mean?
- relating to or concerned with a city or densely populated area“urban sociology”“urban development”
- located in or characteristic of a city or city life“urban property owners”“urban affairs”
Where does urban come from?
For the euphemistic or proscribed term, it was coined by New York radio DJ Frankie Crocker in the early to mid-1970s as a synonym for Black music.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with urban
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of urban.
Questions about saying urban
How do you pronounce urban?
Say UR-bun. The American pronunciation is /ˈɝbən/. In British English it is /ˈɜːbən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in urban?
Urban has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UR). Broken into parts: UR · bun.
Is urban 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 /ˈɜːbən/ (UR-bun).