How to pronounce “word”
Say “word” in one beat
word
/wɝd/
The voice you hear here is American; the British form is /wɜːd/ (see the table below), and a British voice is available in the app's settings.
- wordwɝd
- IPA (American)
- /wɝd/
- IPA (British)
- /wɜːd/
- Respelling
- WURD
- Syllables
- 1 — word
- Stress
- One syllable, so the whole word carries the beat — say /wɝd/ in one unbroken piece rather than clipping the vowel.
- Part of speech
- noun, verb
- Difficulty
- Beginner — most learners get this on the first take
American and British are not the same here
/wɝd/
/wɜːd/
No audio here: sayit’s voice is American, so a British button would play the American word. Read the transcription instead.
What “word” means
- noun
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
“words are the blocks from which sentences are made”
- noun
a brief statement
“he didn't say a word about it”
- noun
information about recent and important events
“they awaited news of the outcome”
Say it in a sentence
“She couldn't find the right word to describe the taste.”“word”, answered
How do you pronounce “word”?
“word” is pronounced /wɝd/ (WURD) in American English and /wɜːd/ in British English — one syllable. It is one unbroken piece — /wɝd/ — with no pause anywhere inside it.
How many syllables does “word” have?
One, despite the 1 vowel letters in the spelling. The whole word is /wɝd/ — a single beat.
Is “word” said differently in British English?
Yes. American English says /wɝd/ (WURD); British English says /wɜːd/. Both are correct — choose the accent you are learning and stay inside it.
What does “word” mean?
As a noun: a unit of language that native speakers can identify For example: “words are the blocks from which sentences are made” It carries 2 other senses as well — all of them said the same way.
Where is the stress in “word”?
One syllable, so the whole word carries the beat — say /wɝd/ in one unbroken piece rather than clipping the vowel.
Now say “word” and see every sound
Record it once and sayit lines your audio up against the target sound by sound — what landed, what slipped, and what it sounded like instead.