How to pronounce “measure”
Measure is pronounced /ˈmeʒər/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the first one — me. 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 me in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern Oo — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“measure” sound by sound
“measure” 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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mClose the lips, lower the soft palate and let the voiced air come out through the nose.
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eHold the tongue mid-high and forward with the jaw slightly open and lips relaxed and unrounded.
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ʒSame as /ʃ/ — tongue blade behind the ridge, lips slightly rounded — but with the voice turned on.
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ərThe same r-coloured tongue shape as /ɜːr/ but weak, short and unstressed — the ending of "teacher", "doctor", "sugar".
Words that rhyme with “measure”
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 “measure”
Each of these differs from “measure” 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 “measure”
- How do you pronounce “measure”?
- “measure” is pronounced /ˈmeʒər/, with the stress on the first syllable (me). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “measure”?
- “measure” has 2 syllables: me · ʒər. The stress pattern is Oo.
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