2 syllables: Bur, ger. Stress on Bur.
BUR-gur
/ˈbɝɡɚ/
Burger is pronounced BUR-gur (/ˈbɝɡɚ/). It has two syllables (Bur-ger), with the stress on "Bur". Burger is a noun referring to a patty of ground meat, typically beef, served inside a sliced bun with various toppings. It can also denote a sandwich assembled with such a patty. In casual speech, the word often carries a sense of fast-food culture or casual dining, and it functions as a countable noun in most contexts.
nounBurger is a noun referring to a patty of ground meat, typically beef, served inside a sliced bun with various toppings. It can also denote a sandwich assembled with such a patty. In casual speech, the word often carries a sense of fast-food culture or casual dining, and it functions as a countable noun in most contexts.
"I ordered a cheeseburger for lunch."
"The restaurant’s signature burger comes with caramelized onions."
"He cooked burgers on the grill for the barbecue."
In US English, pronounce BUR-ger as /ˈbɜːrɡər/. The first syllable carries primary stress; the vowel is the mid-central to open back unrounded /ɜː/ and the 'r' is rhotically pronounced. The second syllable is unstressed with a reduced schwa-like sound /ər/; the final consonant is /ɡ/ followed by a light schwa or a reduced vowel. In fast speech, the second syllable may be a quick /ɡər/ or /ɡə/ depending on speaker. Listening to native examples helps anchor the exact vowel quality and rhoticity.
Common mistakes include: 1) Misplacing stress on the second syllable (BUR-ger). 2) Prouncing the first vowel as a short /ɪ/ or /ɔ/ instead of the /ɜː/ or /ɜ/ quality. 3) Dropping or mispronouncing the /r/ in the second syllable (pronouncing /ˈbɜːɡɡə/ or /ˈbɜːɡə/ with no rhotic coloring). Correction tips: practice /ˈbɜːrɡər/ with a steady air stream, keep the second syllable short but present, and ensure the /ɡ/ is clear before the final schwa. Use minimal pairs against /ˈbæɡər/ (bagger) to train vowel distinction and rhoticity.
In US English, you get /ˈbɜːrɡər/ with rhotic /r/. UK English often renders it /ˈbɜːɡə/ or /ˈbɜːɡə/ with a reduced final syllable and less pronounced rhoticity. Australian English tends toward /ˈbɜːɡə/ as well, with a centralized or schwa-like final vowel and a non-strong rhotic in casual speech. Key differences are rhoticity strength and final vowel reduction; vowel quality of the first syllable tends to be /ɜː/ across varieties, but stress and the final vowel quality vary slightly by accent.
The challenge centers on the rhotic /r/ in the first syllable and the reduced, vocalized final syllable in non-rhotic accents. Learners often mispronounce the /ɜː/ vowel (as /ɪ/ or /æ/) and omit or soften the /r/ in the second syllable. Mastering the rapid, reduced second syllable and blending /ɡ/ with a subtle following vowel requires precise tongue positioning: mid-back tongue, relaxed jaw, and a light, quick /r/ coloring in US English. Practice with minimal pairs and slow-to-fast drills to cement the rhythm.
A distinctive feature is the quick transition from the stressed /ɜː/ vowel in the first syllable to the /ɡ/ consonant and a lightly reduced second syllable /ər/ or /ə/. The cluster /ɡr/ blends tightly, and the final vowel in non-rhotic varieties reduces to a schwa. Paying attention to the exact mouth posture—rounded lips for /ɜː/ before the /r/ and a relaxed tongue for the /ər/ reduction—will help you land the natural, native sound. IPA cues and mouth diagrams can guide precise articulators.
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The term burger derives from hamburger, which originated from Hamburg, Germany, a city historically associated with a ground-meat dish. The modern American usage condensed hamburger to burger in the late 19th to early 20th century as a shorthand for a patty of ground beef served inside a bun. The root word hamburger itself is linked to the Hamburg style of ground beef patties brought to the United States by German immigrants; over time, regional spellings and pronunciations evolved. The word hamburger entered common usage in the United States with the rise of fast-food culture. The suffix -er in burger is not a morphological indicator of agent here but a phonetic simplification that aligns with American English phonology, where unstressed syllables and rapid speech favor the reduced vowel and consonant cluster simplifications. First known printed uses date to the late 1800s, with informal regional variants appearing in menus and cookbooks before becoming a staple in American dining. Today, burger denotes both the patty alone in some culinary contexts and the sandwich as a whole, cross-cutting into global menus where the term is widely understood.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Burger" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Burger" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Burger" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Burger"
-ger sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
