2 syllables: Bur, ger King. Stress on Bur.
BUR-gur-king
/ˈbɝ.ɡɚ kɪŋ/
Burger King is pronounced BUR-gur-king (/ˈbɝ.ɡɚ kɪŋ/). It has two syllables (Bur-ger King), with the stress on "Bur". As a noun, a well-known fast-food chain name, used as a noun to refer to the restaurant or its brand. The two-word proper noun usually functions as a casual but recognizable label for a global chain, with distinct stress patterns on the first and second words. In pronunciation, it combines relaxed American vowel qualities in “Burger” with the prominent “King” syllable, often flattened in rapid speech.
nounA well-known fast-food chain name, used as a noun to refer to the restaurant or its brand. The two-word proper noun usually functions as a casual but recognizable label for a global chain, with distinct stress patterns on the first and second words. In pronunciation, it combines relaxed American vowel qualities in “Burger” with the prominent “King” syllable, often flattened in rapid speech.
- You’ll hear and likely imitate a softened Burger: keep the /ɜː/ or /ɜ/ vowel clear; don’t reduce too much in American English. - In between words, avoid turning Burger King into a single syllable: the boundary should be audible with a slight pause or a natural gliding sound. - Heavily emphasize the /r/ in Burger in non-rhotic dialects; most audiences won’t expect a strong /r/ in UK or Australian pronunciations. - Common mispronunciations: /ˈbɜːɡə(r) kɪŋ/ with silent /r/ in US, or /ˈbɜrɡərkɪŋ/ blurring /k/ into /g/; practice separate syllables and crisp /k/ release. - Fix by practicing isolated syllables, then two-word phrases, then sentences with natural tempo.
"I grabbed a burger at Burger King after work."
"The Burger King commercial aired during the game last night."
"We debated which Burger King location to visit for lunch."
Pronounce as BUR-ger KING with primary stress on BUR and on KING. US: /ˈbɜːrɡər ˈkɪŋ/ or /ˈbɜːɡər ˈkɪŋ/; UK: /ˈbɜːɡə ˈkɪŋ/. The first word often reduces to /ˈbɜːɡə/ in fast speech, and the second word maintains a clear /kɪŋ/. Visualize the lips: start with rounded lips for /ɜː/ (US /ɜːr/), then release into a light /r/ if rhotic accents impact; end Burger with a soft ‘er’ and a crisp /g/ before the /ər/ in some dialects. Audio reference: listen to the brand spot or dictionary audio for /ˈbɜːɡər ˈkɪŋ/.
Two common errors: (1) over-pronouncing the /r/ in Burger in non-rhotic accents; in many British pronunciations, the /r/ is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel, so you should reduce /r/ to an approximate /ˈbɜːɡə/ rather than /ˈbɜːrɡər/. (2) Slurring the King into /kɪŋ/ with the preceding /ər/ turning into a long vowel; keep the /k/ release clear and avoid adding an extra vowel between Burger and King. Practice crisp /ɡ/ and /k/ boundaries and a short /ə/ in the middle.
US: rhotic, with a pronounced /r/; Burger often [ˈbɜːɡər], King as [ˈkɪŋ]. UK: typically non-rhotic; Burger becomes [ˈbɜːɡə], King remains [ˈkɪŋ]. AU: rhotic tendency in educated speech but often approximates US vowels; Burger may be [ˈbɜːɡə], King [ˈkɪŋ], with more vowel length variation. The main difference lies in rhoticity and vowel quality of the /ɜː/ and the schwa-like middle vowel.
The difficulty comes from coordinating two adjacent syllables with distinct vowel qualities and consonant clusters: a tense, back-centered vowel in /ˈbɜːr/ or /ˈbɜːɡə/ followed by a fast transition to /ɡər/ or /ər/ before /kɪŋ/. The /ɜː/ vs. /ə/ distinction, plus the /r/ influence in rhotics, creates a common soft‑palate and tongue-tip tension. In rapid speech, the two words blur without careful boundary cues.
A distinctive feature is the two-word sequence where the final consonant of Burger (/g/ or /ɡ/) meets the initial consonant of King (/k/). In careful speech you land a clear /ɡ/ release before a crisp /k/; in fast speech you may merge the /ər/ to a schwa-like /ə/ and lightly connect the /ɡ/ to /k/ without a strong glottal stop. Proper practice keeps this boundary clean and audible.
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- US: Pronounce /ˈbɜːrɡər/ with a strong rhotic /r/; keep /ɜː/ as a mid-back vowel; ensure /ɡ/ and /ɚ/ transitions are smooth before /ˈkɪŋ/. - UK: Reduce the /r/ after Burger; keep /ˈbɜːɡə/ and maintain a clear /k/ before /ɪŋ/; the second word remains unstressed compared to US. - AU: Similar to US but with a slightly more centralized /ɜː/ and less pronounced /r/ in some speakers; maintain a crisp /k/ and /ŋ/ at the end. All rely on IPA: US /ˈbɜːɡər ˈkɪŋ/, UK /ˈbɜːɡə ˈkɪŋ/, AU /ˈbɜːɡə ˈkɪŋ/.
Burger King is a corporate brand name formed from two simple English words. “Burger” derives from the Germanic word ‘Burg’ via the noun ‘burger’ in English to mean a burger-shaped sandwich, ultimately linked to the act of a “hamburger” that references Hamburg, Germany. “King” signifies supremacy or market leadership, a common branding device in the fast-food industry. The combination first appeared in the early 1950s as a trade name chosen to evoke Americana, familiarity, and a sense of dominance in the quick-service segment. The exact origin of the name is tied to founders who sought a family-friendly, easily remembered brand. Since then, Burger King has become a global franchise, with mark variations across jurisdictions, but the core two-word structure and capitalization remain standard in English-language branding. The first known use as a corporate identifier dates to the mid-20th century, and the brand rapidly expanded through franchising and international advertising, embedding the two-word name in popular culture and consumer lexicon.|
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Words that rhyme with "Burger King"
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