2 syllables: Lu, cre. Stress on Lu.
LOO-kur
/ˈluːkɚ/
Lucre is pronounced LOO-kur (/ˈluːkɚ/). It has two syllables (Lu-cre), with the stress on "Lu". Lucre is an unappealing noun meaning monetary gain, especially when gained in a greedy or unscrupulous way. It denotes wealth pursued or obtained through questionable means, reflecting moral judgment about such profits. The term emphasizes the profit motive over virtue, often conveying a negative or hypocritical tone in discourse.
nounLucre is an unappealing noun meaning monetary gain, especially when gained in a greedy or unscrupulous way. It denotes wealth pursued or obtained through questionable means, reflecting moral judgment about such profits. The term emphasizes the profit motive over virtue, often conveying a negative or hypocritical tone in discourse.
"The CEO’s lucre blinded him to the ethical implications of the deal."
"She spoke of lucre with a sniff of disdain, preferring fairness over wealth."
"The pamphlet warned against pursuing lucre at the expense of public welfare."
Pronounce as two syllables: /ˈluː.kɚ/ in US rhotic speech, with the second syllable a rhotic schwa sounding like “ker.” In non-rhotic UK/AU accents the ending becomes /ə/ or /əː/ as /ˈluː.kə/. Emphasize the first syllable: LOO-ker. Tip: keep the /uː/ long and reduce the second vowel to a soft, quick schwa. Audio reference: check Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries for the audio button to hear /ˈluː.kɚ/ or /ˈluː.kə/ depending on the accent.
Common errors: (1) Pronouncing it as two equal syllables with a full vowel in the second syllable (like ‘luke-er’). Correction: shorten the second syllable to a quick schwa or /ɚ/ in rhotic accents. (2) Not respecting the long /uː/ in the first syllable; avoid a short /u/ or /ʊ/. Correction: hold /uː/ slightly longer, then drop to a soft /ɚ/ or /ə/. (3) Misplacing lip rounding; keep rounded lips for /uː/ but relax for the /ɚ/ or /ə/. Practice with minimal pairs: /luː.kɚ/ vs /lu.kæ/.
In US rhotic speech, /ˈluː.kɚ/ with a pronounced rhotic final; the /ɚ/ is clear and vowel-rounded. In UK/AU non-rhotic varieties, the final is often /ə/ or /əː/, giving /ˈluː.kə/. Vowel duration of /uː/ remains long across accents. In fast speech, the /ɚ/ can reduce to a syllabic consonant or vanish in some dialects, yet the primary stress remains on the first syllable. Listen to Cambridge/CKD sources for British pronunciations and Forvo for regional variants.
The main challenge is the final vowel reduction in non-rhotic accents and the rhotacized ending in rhotic accents. The /ˈluː/ requires a long, rounded back vowel with lip rounding maintained while transitioning to a short, relaxed /ɚ/ or /ə/ in the second syllable. The subtle vowel color shift and the quick, unobtrusive second syllable can cause listeners to mishear as ‘luke-er’ or ‘luke-rah.’ Focus on keeping the first syllable strong and the second syllable clipped.
Lucre carries primary stress on the first syllable: LOO-ker. It’s a short, closed second syllable. The challenge is avoiding overemphasis on the second vowel. Ensure smooth transition from /uː/ to /ɚ/ or /ə/. In connected speech, the /ˈluː.kɚ/ can link to following words with a light, almost imperceptible /ɚ/; practice by saying structurally similar words with minor second syllable reductions to acclimate your mouth to rapid speech.
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Lucre derives from the Latin lucrum, meaning “gain, profit,” which itself stems from lucrum or lucrī, linked to the PIE root luk- meaning “to gain, buy.” In Classical Latin, lucrum referred to profit or advantage and carried a neutral to negative valence depending on context. The word entered English through Old French lucrer, meaning to profit or enrich, influenced by the horror of avarice in moralistic literature. By the early modern period, lucre had solidified as a pejorative term for wealth pursued through unscrupulous means, often appearing in religious and satirical writings to condemn greed. Over time, lucre retained its moral innuendo, though it functions stylistically as a formal or elevated lexical choice in contemporary usage. First known uses appear in medieval and early Renaissance prose, aligning with discussions of avarice in moral treatises and sermons. In modern usage, lucre frequently collocates with phrases like “lucre-seeking,” “lucre-hungry,” and “filthy lucre,” illustrating its persistent negative charge in English-language discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Lucre" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Lucre"
-ure sounds
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