How to pronounce “bush”
Bush is pronounced /ˈbʊʃ/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “bush”
✗ Often said: /ˈbʌʃ/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈbʊʃ/
Why the two come apart: at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “bush” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“bush” sound by sound
“bush” is built out of 3 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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bPress both lips together and release them while the vocal folds are already vibrating, with no puff of air.
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ʊPull the tongue high and back but keep it lax, with light, loose lip rounding — short and relaxed.
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ʃPull the tongue slightly back from the /s/ position, spread the blade wide behind the ridge, round the lips a little, and push air through with no voice.
Words that rhyme with “bush”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “bush”
Each of these differs from “bush” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “bush”
- How do you pronounce “bush”?
- “bush” is pronounced /ˈbʊʃ/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “bush”?
- “bush” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “bush”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈbʌʃ/, but it is actually /ˈbʊʃ/, because at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
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