3 syllables: ham, bur, ger. Stress on ham.
HAM-bur-gur
/ˈhæmbɚɡɚ/
hamburger is pronounced HAM-bur-gur (/ˈhæmbɚɡɚ/). It has three syllables (ham-bur-ger), with the stress on "ham". A sandwich consisting of a patty, typically beef, placed inside a sliced bun, often with toppings. In general usage, the term also refers to the patty itself or to dishes bearing the name, and it appears in American menus and fast-food contexts. The word is widely recognized in English-speaking countries and serves as a common item in casual discourse and cuisine-related discussions.
A sandwich consisting of a patty, typically beef, placed inside a sliced bun, often with toppings. In general usage, the term also refers to the patty itself or to dishes bearing the name, and it appears in American menus and fast-food contexts. The word is widely recognized in English-speaking countries and serves as a common item in casual discourse and cuisine-related discussions.
Actionable tips: exaggerate the first two syllables, record yourself, compare to native samples, practice with minimal pairs (HAM-burg-er vs HAM-bớr/ham-birger) to stabilize the sequence.
"I ordered a hamburger with cheese and pickles."
"She cooked a homemade hamburger patty for dinner."
"The hamburger joint down the street has a new spicy sauce."
US/UK/AU: /ˈhæmˌbɜːrɡər/ (US) or /ˈhæmbɜːɡə/ (UK/AU). Primary stress on HAM-, secondary on BUR- when spoken as two syllables; in fast speech, it often compresses to HAM-bur-gər. Mouth positions: initial /h/ with open glottis, /æ/ as a short front vowel, /m/ bilabial nasal, /b/ stop, /ɜː/ mid–back central vowel, /r/ rhotic coda in US, and /g/ as a hard onset before -ər. For a standard pronunciation, begin with a wide mouth for /æ/ then round the lips slightly for /ɜː/ before the /r/ or /ɡ/ sound depending on accent. See audio examples in Pronounce or Forvo for native speaker references.
Common errors: replacing /æ/ with /eɪ/ in HAM-; softening /t/ or /d/ when transitioning to -burger; dropping the final /r/ in non-rhotic accents. Correction tips: exaggerate the first syllable with /hæm/ before the /bɜːr/ or /bɜːɡ/ sequence; clearly articulate /r/ in rhotic accents, making sure the tongue tip slightly curls; keep the /ɡ/ soft but definite before the schwa-like ending. Practice saying HAM-burger with careful lip rounding and relaxed jaw; record and compare.
US: rhotic /r/ pronounced; /ˈhæmˌbɜːrɡər/ with clear r at the end of burger. UK: often non-rhotic in rapid speech; /ˈhæmbəːɡə/ or /ˈhæmbɜːɡə/ with weaker or silent final r. AU: rhotic in connected speech but sometimes less pronounced in unstressed syllables; /ˈhæmbəːɡə/ or /ˈhæmˌbɜːɡə/. Vowel quality varies: US /ɜːr/ as a more rounded /ɜːr/ vs UK /ə/ or /əː/. Consonants are generally /m/ /b/ /ɡ/. Practice by listening to regional speakers and mimicking the vowel reductions and r-coloring.
Because of the cluster /hm/ at the start, the syllable boundary after the first open stressed syllable, and the /ɜːr/ or /ər/ ending depending on accent. The combination /ˈhæm/ followed by /ˌbɜːr/ or /bəɡ/ in rapid speech can blur the exact vowel quality and the final r or g. Also, non-native listeners often misplace stress or fail to produce the mid-central /ɜː/ sound. Focus on crisp initial /h/ and distinct /æ/ and /ɜː/ vowels, then clearly articulate /ɡ/ and optional /r/.
Unique to hamburger is the interplay of the cluster after HAM-: the transition from /æ/ to /m/ to /b/ places quick contact between the lips for /m/ then a bursty /b/ before the mid vowel /ɜː/ or schwa. This demands controlled voicing and precise tongue positions to avoid merging /m/ with /b/ or softening /ɜː/ into /ə/. Emphasize the two- or three-syllable rhythm and ensure the final -ger is not reduced to /dʒər/ or omitted; keep the /ɡ/ clear before the final schwa.
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Hamburger derives from Hamburg, Germany, where a cut of beef was ground and formed into patties for local dishes. The term reached English-speaking America in the 19th century with immigrants; early usage often described a Hamburg-style beef patty served on bread, evolving in the U.S. food industry into the modern burger. The word “hamburger” became a standard label for a patty placed inside a bread roll, regardless of toppings. By the mid-20th century, fast-food culture popularized the modern hamburger as a ubiquitous, customizable meal, with regional variations and names (hamburger, cheeseburger, veggie burger) expanding the concept beyond its German origin. First known printed use in English appears in the late 1800s, aligning with the rise of Hamburg-style beef in American diners and German immigrant communities. The spelling shift to “hamburger” reflects Anglicization of the German root and the suffix -er, denoting a person or thing associated with Hamburg or the patty itself.
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Words that rhyme with "hamburger"
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