2 syllables: Con, jure. Stress on Con.
KAHN-jur
/ˈkɑndʒɚ/
Conjure is pronounced KAHN-jur (/ˈkɑndʒɚ/). It has two syllables (Con-jure), with the stress on "Con". Conjure is a verb meaning to summon a ghost or spirit, or to bring to mind or recall something as if by magic. It often implies invoking or calling forth through supernatural or imaginative means, sometimes with an element of illusion. In modern use, it can also describe bringing a memory, idea, or image to consciousness or presenting something as if by enchantment.
verbConjure is a verb meaning to summon a ghost or spirit, or to bring to mind or recall something as if by magic. It often implies invoking or calling forth through supernatural or imaginative means, sometimes with an element of illusion. In modern use, it can also describe bringing a memory, idea, or image to consciousness or presenting something as if by enchantment.
"The old storyteller claimed he could conjure spirits from the mist."
"She tried to conjure up memories of her childhood after hearing the familiar song."
"The magician will conjure a rabbit from his hat."
Pronounce as kən-ˈd͡ʒɔːr in US and UK announcements, with primary stress on the second syllable: con-JURE. IPA: US /kənˈdʒɔr/ or /kənˈdʒɔːr/; UK /kənˈdʒɔː/; AU /kənˈdʒɔː/. Start with a weak schwa, then the affricate /d͡ʒ/ as in judge, followed by /ɔː/ in non-rhotic contexts. You’ll place the tongue high-mid for /ɔː/ and release through the lips with rounded posture just before the final /r/ in rhotic accents. Audio: think of “con” + “jur-” with the /d͡ʒ/ starting the stressed syllable.
Common errors: (1) Dropping the /d͡ʒ/ and saying ‘con-ure’ or ‘con-jor’ with a plain /j/; (2) Misplacing stress as CON-jure or con-JURE missing the secondary /n/ transition; (3) Deleting the final /r/ in non-rhotic accents or over-voicing the r in rhotic ones. Correction: keep the /d͡ʒ/ cluster after the schwa, ensure the stress lands on the second syllable, and articulate the final rhotic or non-rhotic ending clearly depending on accent. Practice with minimal pairs: con- + jur vs con- + jure.
US tends to value a rhotic /r/, with /kənˈd͡ʒɔɹ/ or /kənˈd͡ʒɔːɹ/ depending on vowel length; UK is typically non-rhotic, rendering /kənˈd͡ʒɔː/ with a longer vowel before the silent or weakly pronounced r; AU mirrors UK patterns but often with slightly rounded /ɔː/ and a less pronounced vowel reduction. Note that the /d͡ʒ/ sound remains constant; the main variation is rhoticity and vowel length before r, plus local intonation.
The difficulty lies in the mid-to-high front-palate contact of /d͡ʒ/ after a reduced vowel, which can blur into a simple /j/ or /ʒ/ for some speakers. The second syllable bears primary stress, which can be easy to miss in rapid speech. Additionally, the final /r/ varies in rhotic vs non-rhotic dialects, changing the overall syllable count and resonance. Focus on keeping the /d͡ʒ/ onset crisp and the /ɔr/ sequence distinct.
Yes. The verb’s two-consonant onset /d͡ʒ/ after a schwa makes a sharp, compact cluster to master; the vowel before it in the unstressed first syllable is a neutral vowel, so the transition to the affricate must be clean. Also, in careful speech, you’ll hear a subtle rhotacization in rhotic accents, where the final /r/ colors preceding the next word. Practicing with minimal pairs helps lock in the exact onset timing and vowel quality across contexts.
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Conjure originates from the Old French conjurer, derived from the Latin coniurare (to swear together) and coniurare ultimately from con- (with, together) and iurare (to swear). The sense of binding or invoking through oath evolved into magical invocation by the Middle Ages, where conjurer or conjuror described a person who calls spirits or performs magical acts. The early modern English adoption carried the sense of summoning supernatural beings, as well as figurative uses like conjuring ideas or memories. By the 16th-17th centuries, English writers frequently used conjure in both literal magical contexts and in metaphorical senses of bringing something into existence or mind. The word has retained its dual nuance: an act of summoning in a magical or ceremonial sense, and a broader, figurative act of bringing forth thoughts, images, or sensations as if by magic. The spelling stabilized in English with the modern form conjure, while variants like conjuror or conjurer reflect older orienting terms for practitioners of magic.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Conjure" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Conjure"
-cur sounds
-ure sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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