How to pronounce urchin
Say it like UR-chin. Urchin 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 urchin. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- UR
- chin
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Urchin 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.
- chinKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of urchin
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: UR-chin.
What does urchin mean?
- A mischievous child.
- A street urchin, a child who lives, or spends most of their time, in the streets.
- A sea urchin.
Where does urchin come from?
From Middle English yrchoun, irchoun (“hedgehog; sea urchin”), from Old Northern French irechon, from Vulgar Latin *ērīciōnem, from Latin ērīcius.
Questions about saying urchin
How do you pronounce urchin?
Say UR-chin. The American pronunciation is /ˈɝtʃɪn/. In British English it is /ˈɜːtʃɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in urchin?
Urchin has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UR). Broken into parts: UR · chin.
Is urchin 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 /ˈɜːtʃɪn/ (UR-chin).