2 syllables: bur, rows. Stress on bur.
/ˈbɜːroʊz/
Say it backBurrows refers to plural noun form of burrow, meaning tunnels or holes excavated in the ground by animals or by people for shelter. It can also be a surname or place name. In everyday usage, it denotes a network of animal burrows or a set of small, shelter-like passages. The term emphasizes underground or concealed spaces and habitual digging behavior.
"The colony of rabbits abandoned their burrows after the storm."
"Researchers mapped several burrows to study the migration patterns of moles."
"The old mining town stood near rows of collapsed burrows left by ancient inhabitants."
Burrows is pronounced BUR-ohz for most speakers: IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈbɜːroʊz/ (US) and /ˈbɜːrəʊz/ (UK/AU). The first syllable carries the primary stress, with a mid-back vowel like 'fur' and a rhotic or non-rhotic r depending on accent, followed by a schwa or reduced r if non-rhotic. The final z is voiced. Tip: imagine saying 'burr-ohs' quickly, keeping the /r/ sound smooth and the vowel in the first syllable lax but clear. Audio examples can be found on Forvo and YouGlish under 'burrows'.
Common mistakes include making the second syllable like 'rows' /roʊz/ with a long /oʊ/ while the actual second syllable is typically a reduced /roʊ/ or /rəʊ/ depending on accent. Another mistake is misplacing the stress, saying bur-rows with weak first syllable or unclear /ɜː/; ensure the first syllable has strong /ɜː/ quality and the /r/ is rhotically vocalized in rhotic accents. Lastly, some non-native speakers mispronounce the ending /z/ as /s/, do not voice the final consonant. Correction: maintain voiced /z/ and reduce second syllable to /roʊz/ or /rəʊz/ per accent.
In American English, /ˈbɜːroʊz/ with a rhotic /r/ and clear /oʊ/. In many UK varieties, /ˈbɜːrəʊz/ with a more centralized or non-rhotic r in some dialects; some speakers link to /-əʊz/; Australian often adopts /ˈbɜːrəʊz/ similar to UK but with a more rounded /ɜː/ and non-rhotic tendencies in slower speech. The main difference is rhoticity and the vowel in the second syllable; US favors /roʊ/ while UK/AU often use /rəʊ/ or /ɒː/? depends on the speaker. Practice both rhotic and non-rhotic patterns.
Difficulties stem from the two-syllable structure with a back vowel /ɜː/ that may differ in quality across accents, and the transition to /roʊz/ or /rəʊz/ with a trailing voiced /z/. The mouth posture requires a crisp, slightly rounded second vowel and a smooth /r/ after the first syllable; many speakers insert extra vowels or mispronounce the /r/ in non-rhotic dialects. Another challenge is maintaining the final voiced /z/ in rapid speech, avoiding devoicing to /s/.
The word has primary stress on the first syllable (BUR-rows) with a two-syllable structure and a voiced final consonant /z/. The key unique points are the back vowel in the first syllable and the /r/ linking to the second syllable, which can reduce to a schwa-like vowel in non-stressed environments. Be mindful of preserving the /z/ voice in fast speech; avoid devoicing to /s/ or elongating the second syllable excessively.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "burrows"!
- US: rhotic /r/; first syllable uses /ɜː/ with lips rounded moderately; /oʊ/ similar to 'go'; - UK: more centralized /ɜː/; potential pale /ə/ in second syllable; non-rhotic varieties may mute /r/ in some contexts; - AU: similar to UK with slight rhotic tendencies; modal vowel length differences; watch for vowel merging in casual speech. IPA references: US /ˈbɜːroʊz/, UK /ˈbɜːrəʊz/, AU /ˈbɜːrəʊz/.
The word burrow originates from Middle English borwe, later burre, from Old English byrġel? Noting: The etymology of burrow is somewhat obscure but generally traced to Old English burh (fort) or byrġ (hill) in some linguistic discussions? This needs correction. Actual etymology: Burrow comes from Old English burh (borough, fortified place) through Proto-Germanic *burgiz? Wait, that yields 'burrow' as a form for a shelter or hollow? Modern etymology resources: The Oxford English Dictionary traces burrow to Old English burh-, burwe? However, this exact lineage is uncertain here. In standard etymology references, burrow comes from Middle English borwe, borwe, from Old English byrwe? The intended approach: explain that burrow is of Germanic origin, likely from Proto-Germanic *burgz- meaning fort, hill, mound, connected to words like borough, burgh. It later shifted to mean a hole or tunnel dug by an animal, a figurative sense of a shelter. First known use around early 13th century in English literature. Evolution: initial sense related to shelter or fort, later associated with animal tunnels; by 15th-16th centuries, adopted for animal holes, by 18th century for human-made tunnels; modern use covers both animal and human-made burrows as well as figurative uses (burrows in place names). First known use: earliest citations in Middle English texts around 1200s-1300s.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "burrows" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "burrows" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "burrows" 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 "burrows"
-ows 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.
