Learn How to Pronounce burn
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How to pronounce:
burn
Definition:
(nou) pain that feels hot as if it were on fire (nou) a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun (nou) an injury caused by exposure to heat or chemicals or radiation (nou) a place or area that has been burned (especially on a person's body) (nou) damage inflicted by fire
Phonetic Transcription:
bɜːn
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How to perfect your pronunciation of: burn
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Common mistakes of burn pronunciation
- Misplacing vowel sounds: Many learners pronounce "burn" with a long "u" sound, as in "bloom." The correct pronunciation is /bɜrn/ in US English and /bɜːn/ in UK English. Tip: Focus on the short "u" sound, similar to "her."
- Ignoring the "r" sound: Some speakers drop the "r," saying "bun" instead of "burn." This changes the meaning entirely. The correct sound is /r/, pronounced clearly after the vowel. Tip: Practice saying "brr" to emphasize the "r" in "burn."
- Incorrect stress placement: Some learners stress the wrong syllable, saying "BUR-n" instead of "burn" with a single syllable. The correct pronunciation has no secondary stress. Tip: Remember "burn" is a one-syllable word; keep it simple.
- Overemphasizing the "n": A common mistake is to pronounce "burn" as "burnn," adding an extra "n" sound. The correct pronunciation is /bɜrn/ in US and /bɜːn/ in UK, without doubling the consonant. Tip: Keep your tongue relaxed at the end of the word.
- Mispronouncing the initial consonant: Some learners confuse "b" with "p," saying "purn" instead of "burn." This alters the word completely. The correct sound is /b/, a voiced consonant. Tip: Practice with words like "bat" to strengthen the "b" sound.