Learn How to Pronounce burden
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How to pronounce:
burden
Definition:
(nou) an onerous or difficult concern (nou) weight to be borne or conveyed (nou) the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work (nou) the central idea that is expanded in a document or discourse
Phonetic Transcription:
ˈbɜːdən
Examples:
The burden was too heavy to carry.
The burden of the secret was so heavy that the barber fell ill.
Making the poles of light weight poplar reduced the overall burden.
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Common mistakes of burden pronunciation
- Misplacing the stress: Many learners mistakenly stress the second syllable, saying "bur-DEN" instead of the correct "BUR-den" (ˈbɜr.dən for US, ˈbɜː.dən for UK). Tip: Remember that the first syllable carries the primary stress.
- Incorrect vowel sound: Some people pronounce "burden" with an "oo" sound, saying "boor-den" instead of the correct "bur" (ˈbɜr for US, ˈbɜː for UK). Tip: Focus on the "ur" sound, which is pronounced like "er" in "her."
- Omitting the "d" sound: A common error is to pronounce "burden" as "bur-en," dropping the "d" sound entirely. This leads to confusion. Tip: Make sure to clearly articulate the "d" sound to maintain clarity in your speech.
- Overemphasizing the "e": Some learners tend to add an extra emphasis on the "e" in "burden," making it sound like "bur-deen." This is incorrect. Tip: Keep the "e" subtle and ensure it blends smoothly into the second syllable.
- Confusing "burden" with "burdened": It's easy to mix up "burden" with its past participle form "burdened." The latter has an extra syllable. Tip: Practice the difference by saying "burden" (ˈbɜr.dən) and then "burdened" (ˈbɜr.dənd) to distinguish between them.