Learn How to Pronounce curse

Not sure how to say a word? Try the Promova pronunciation tool for free and learn how to pronounce anything in English correctly. Discover over 100,000 words and easily learn English pronunciation online!

Find your word:

Find how to pronounce a word and practice it in our free word pronouncer for English learners!

How to pronounce:

Listen to the pronunciation:

curse

Definition:

(nou) profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger (nou) an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone or some group (nou) an evil spell (nou) something causing misery or death (nou) a severe affliction

Phonetic Transcription:

kɜːs

Examples:

But yes, this is the curse of dyslexia.

It is a prayer for evil, a curse, imprecation.

That is both the joy and the curse of Wikipedia.

Learn more about:
curse

Related Words:

damn

How to perfect your pronunciation of: curse

Learn Individual Sounds

Break curse down into individual sounds such as kɜːs. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.

Copy Others

Use the tools above to find out how different people say curse in their accents, then try to repeat after them.

Pick an Accent

Avoid mixing word pronunciations. If you’re learning American English, stick to it and try not to confuse yourself with British pronunciation.

Record Yourself

Say curse in the pronunciation tool as many times as it takes before you get it right. Record yourself saying different sentences with curse.

Get a Native Tutor

Improve your pronunciation with native speakers! Practice with American, British, and Australian teachers on Promova.

Common mistakes of curse pronunciation

Vowel confusion: Some learners mispronounce "curse" as /kɜrs/ instead of the correct /kɜːrs/ in UK English and /kɝs/ in US English. Tip: Focus on lengthening the vowel sound in "cur" for UK pronunciation.
Ending sound omission: A common mistake is dropping the final "s" sound, saying "cur" instead of "curse". This can lead to misunderstanding. Tip: Practice saying "curse" clearly, ensuring the "s" is pronounced sharply.
Stress placement: Learners may incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "cu-rse" instead of the correct single-syllable stress /kɜːrs/ or /kɝs/. Tip: Remember that "curse" is a one-syllable word; emphasize it as a whole.
Consonant blend errors: Some people might pronounce "curse" with an extra vowel sound, saying "cur-ese". This is incorrect. Tip: Focus on the smooth transition from "cur" to "s" without adding extra sounds.
Misidentifying the "r" sound: Non-native speakers may struggle with the "r" in "curse", pronouncing it too lightly. The correct pronunciation is /kɜːrs/ in UK and /kɝs/ in US. Tip: Practice by exaggerating the "r" sound to gain confidence.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "curse" in American English?

In American English, "curse" is pronounced as /kɜrs/, with the vowel sound similar to "her." The stress is on the single syllable, making it straightforward to say.

What is the British pronunciation of "curse"?

In British English, "curse" is pronounced as /kɜːs/, featuring a longer vowel sound than in American English. The stress remains on the first syllable, just like in the US variant.

Does "curse" have any silent letters?

No, "curse" does not contain any silent letters; every letter is pronounced. The "c," "u," "r," "s," and "e" all contribute to the sound of the word.

Are there any common mistakes when pronouncing "curse"?

A common mistake is mispronouncing "curse" as /kʌrs/ with a short "u" sound, similar to "cut." Remember, the correct pronunciation has the vowel sound /ɜr/, as in "her."