How to pronounce “word”
Word is pronounced /ˈwɜːrd/. 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 “word”
✗ Often said: /ˈwɔːrd/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈwɜːrd/
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 “word” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“word” sound by sound
“word” 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.
-
wRound and push the lips forward tightly, raise the back of the tongue, then glide immediately into the following vowel.
-
ɜːrHold the tongue central and bunched or curled back for the whole vowel, with the R quality present from beginning to end — it is one continuous r-coloured vowel, not a vowel plus an /r/.
-
dSame tongue position as /t/ — tip on the ridge behind the upper teeth — but voice the sound and release it without aspiration.
Words that rhyme with “word”
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 “word”
Each of these differs from “word” 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 “word”
- How do you pronounce “word”?
- “word” is pronounced /ˈwɜːrd/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “word”?
- “word” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “word”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈwɔːrd/, but it is actually /ˈwɜːrd/, because at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
Stop looking words up one at a time
You just looked up one word. PHONO puts the IPA above every word of whatever you are reading — in your browser, in a PDF, in any app — the moment you select it. An offline pronunciation dictionary, US and UK audio, one hotkey.