How to pronounce workhorse
Say it like WURK-hors. Workhorse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WURK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce workhorse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WURK
- hors
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Workhorse 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.
- horsGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of workhorse
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WURK-haws.
What does workhorse mean?
- A horse used primarily for manual labor; a draft/draught horse.
- A person or piece of equipment that performs a lot of work, especially one heavily relied upon to perform consistently and regularly.“Those old machines are not very glamorous, but even 20 years after their introduction, they are still the workhorses of the industry.”
Where does workhorse come from?
From Middle English werkehorse, equivalent to work + horse.
Questions about saying workhorse
How do you pronounce workhorse?
Say WURK-hors. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɝkˌhoʊrs/. In British English it is /ˈwɜːkˌhɔːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in workhorse?
Workhorse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WURK). Broken into parts: WURK · hors.
Is workhorse 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 /ˈwɜːkˌhɔːs/ (WURK-haws).