How to pronounce urgency
Say it like UR-jun-see. Urgency has three 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 urgency. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- UR
- jun
- see
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Urgency 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.
- junKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- seeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of urgency
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: UR-jun-see.
What does urgency mean?
- the state of being urgent; an earnest and insistent necessity
- pressing importance requiring speedy action“the urgency of his need”
- an urgent situation calling for prompt action“I'll be there, barring any urgencies”“they departed hurriedly because of some great urgency in their affairs”
Where does urgency come from?
From urgent + -ency or Latin urgentia.
Words that rhyme with urgency
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of urgency.
Questions about saying urgency
How do you pronounce urgency?
Say UR-jun-see. The American pronunciation is /ˈɝdʒənsi/. In British English it is /ˈɜːdʒənsi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in urgency?
Urgency has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UR). Broken into parts: UR · jun · see.
Is urgency 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 /ˈɜːdʒənsi/ (UR-jun-see).