Learn How to Pronounce horror

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:

horror

Definition:

(nou) intense and profound fear (nou) something that inspires dislike; something horrible (nou) intense aversion

Phonetic Transcription:

ˈhɒrə

Examples:

Her imprecation was that of horror.

It was the protracted horror of the Vietnamese war.

Kihn screeches in horror at the sight.

Learn more about:
horror

Related Words:

fear

alarm

How to perfect your pronunciation of: horror

Learn Individual Sounds

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

Copy Others

Use the tools above to find out how different people say horror 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 horror in the pronunciation tool as many times as it takes before you get it right. Record yourself saying different sentences with horror.

Get a Native Tutor

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

Common mistakes of horror pronunciation

Incorrect vowel sound: Many people pronounce "horror" with a long "o" sound, as in "hoar." The correct pronunciation is /ˈhɔr.ər/ in US English and /ˈhɒr.ə/ in UK English. Tip: Focus on the short, unstressed vowel sound in the second syllable.
Missing the second syllable: Some may say "horror" as a single syllable, "hor." This omits the crucial second syllable. The correct pronunciation includes both: /ˈhɔr.ər/ (US) or /ˈhɒr.ə/ (UK). Tip: Practice saying the word slowly to ensure both syllables are pronounced clearly.
Stress on the wrong syllable: It's common to mistakenly stress the second syllable, saying "hor-OR." The primary stress is on the first syllable: /ˈhɔr.ər/ (US) or /ˈhɒr.ə/ (UK). Tip: Emphasize the "hor" part to get it right.
Confusion with similar words: Some confuse "horror" with "horrid," leading to incorrect pronunciation. While "horror" is /ˈhɔr.ər/ (US) or /ˈhɒr.ə/ (UK), "horrid" is pronounced /ˈhɔr.ɪd/ (US) or /ˈhɒr.ɪd/ (UK). Tip: Pay attention to the ending sounds to distinguish between them.
Overemphasizing the "r": In some accents, the "r" in "horror" may be pronounced too strongly, making it sound unnatural. The correct pronunciation has a softer "r" sound: /ˈhɔr.ər/ (US) or /ˈhɒr.ə/ (UK). Tip: Try to soften the "r" and focus on the vowel sounds.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "horror"?

In American English, "horror" is pronounced as /ˈhɔːrər/ with the stress on the first syllable. In British English, it is pronounced /ˈhɒrə/ with a slightly different vowel sound in the first syllable.

What is the correct syllable breakdown for "horror"?

The word "horror" has two syllables: "hor" and "ror." The first syllable is stressed, making it sound stronger than the second syllable.

Are there any common mistakes when pronouncing "horror"?

Many people mistakenly pronounce "horror" with an extra vowel sound, saying "hor-uh-ror." The correct pronunciation has no extra vowel, keeping it concise as "hor-ror."

Does "horror" have any regional variations in pronunciation?

While "horror" is generally pronounced similarly across regions, some accents may slightly alter the vowel sounds. However, the stress pattern remains consistent, with the first syllable always emphasized.