How to pronounce “guru”
Guru is pronounced /ˈɡuːˌruː/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the first one — ɡuː. 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 2 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting ɡuː in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern Oō — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “guru”
✗ Often said: /ˈɡɜːrʌ/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈɡuːˌruː/
Why the two come apart: at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here; also, a consonant letter takes an unexpected sound value here, so reading it "as written" comes out wrong.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “guru” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“guru” sound by sound
“guru” is built out of 4 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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ɡBack of the tongue seals against the soft palate and releases while the voice is already on — no puff of air.
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uːPush the tongue high and back and round the lips into a tight, forward circle; hold it tense and long.
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rCurl the tongue tip back (or bunch the tongue body up) without touching anything, round the lips slightly, and voice — the tongue must never tap the roof of the mouth.
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uːPush the tongue high and back and round the lips into a tight, forward circle; hold it tense and long.
Questions people ask about “guru”
- How do you pronounce “guru”?
- “guru” is pronounced /ˈɡuːˌruː/, with the stress on the first syllable (ɡuː). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “guru”?
- “guru” has 2 syllables: ɡuː · ruː. The stress pattern is Oō.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “guru”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈɡɜːrʌ/, but it is actually /ˈɡuːˌruː/, because at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
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