How to pronounce work
Say it like WURK. Work 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 work. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WURK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Work pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WURKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of work
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WURK.
What does work mean?
- exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity“I will work hard to improve my grades”“she worked hard for better living conditions for the poor”
- be employed“Is your husband working again?”“My wife never worked”
- have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected“The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought”“How does your idea work in practice?”
- activity directed toward making or doing something“she checked several points needing further work”
- a product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing“it is not regarded as one of his more memorable works”“the symphony was hailed as an ingenious work”
- the occupation for which you are paid“he is looking for employment”“a lot of people are out of work”
Where does work come from?
Cognate with Scots wark (“work”), North Frisian werk (“work”), Saterland Frisian Wierk (“work”), West Frisian wurk (“work”), Dutch werk (“work”), German Werk (“work”), German Low German Wark (“work”), Luxembourgish Wierk (“work”), Danish væ
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with work
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of work.
Questions about saying work
How do you pronounce work?
Say WURK. The American pronunciation is /wɝk/. In British English it is /wɜːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in work?
Work is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WURK.
Is work 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 /wɜːk/ (WURK).