2 syllables: mur, ky. Stress on mur.
MUR-kee
/ˈmɝki/
murky is pronounced MUR-kee (/ˈmɝki/). It has two syllables (mur-ky), with the stress on "mur". Murky describes something that is dark, dim, or difficult to see or understand. It conveys opacity or ambiguity, often relating to water, weather, or information. In usage, it suggests a lack of clarity or precision, sometimes with a negative or mysterious nuance.
Murky describes something that is dark, dim, or difficult to see or understand. It conveys opacity or ambiguity, often relating to water, weather, or information. In usage, it suggests a lack of clarity or precision, sometimes with a negative or mysterious nuance.
"The lake was murky, making it hard to spot fish near the shore."
"Their explanations remained murky, leaving us more confused than before."
"A murky forecast warned of rain and low visibility."
Murky is pronounced MYUR-kee, with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ˈmɜːr.ki/. Start with a mid-central vowel in the first syllable, then a clear /r/ followed by a clean /i/ in the second syllable. Tip: avoid a tense, rounded onset; keep the /ɜː/ lax but long and center the tongue toward the back of the mouth. Visualize your mouth opening slightly wider for the /ɜː/ and finishing with a quick, crisp /ki/.
Two common pitfalls: (1) Pronouncing the first vowel as a short /ɪ/ or /ʌ/ instead of the lax /ɜː/; keep the vowel long and central. (2) Dropping the /r/ or turning /ɜːr/ into a monophthong without rhotic coloring; ensure you produce the rhotic /ɜːr/ sequence before the final /ki/. Practice: say mur-kee with a slight, voiced postalveolar /r/ and a steady /ɜː/ before the /r/ is complete.
In US English, /ˈmɜːr.ki/ uses rhotic /ɹ/ and a slightly shorter /ɜː/; the r-color remains audible. UK and AU retain the /ɜː/ quality with a full rhotic realization, but non-rhotic listeners may perceive a more centralized vowel; the /ɹ/ in rhotic accents might vary in strength. AU tends to have a more open and rounded /ɜː/ with subtle vowel height differences. Overall, the rhythm remains strong on the first syllable; the second syllable is a crisp /ki/.
The challenge lies in the mid-central /ɜː/ vowel quality combined with a rhotic /ɹ/ onset that quickly blends into /ki/. Tongue height and backness must stay mid and central while maintaining a clear /ɹ/ without lip rounding. For some speakers, the /ɜː/ can drift toward /ə/ or /ɪ/, and the /k/ can be aspirated or unreleased. Focusing on the distinct vocalic color of /ɜː/ and a precise /ɹ/ followed by a clean /ki/ helps stabilize the sound.
The most distinctive feature is the combination of a central vowel /ɜː/ and a following rhotic /ɹ/ that blends into the /ki/ suffix. This creates a smoother, single-feel onset across the two syllables, as opposed to a sharp break. Practice by holding the /ɜː/ longer, then cap it with a fluttering /ɹ/ before the /ki/ onset to ensure you don’t gloss over the /ɹ/ and lose the rhotic cue.
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Murky comes from Middle English murky, reflecting a sense of damp, dark, or murky air; its roots trace to Proto-Germanic or possibly Old English influences where murran or murk described a damp, shadowy environment. Over centuries, murky broadened from describing physical darkness or dampness to metaphorical opacity—information, motives, or weather that is unclear or confusing. The term aligns with other darkness-related words like murk and murkworld in older texts, evolving to a general notion of obscurity. First known uses appear in Middle English manuscripts where writers described waters and atmospheres that lacked clarity. By Early Modern English, murky took on both literal and figurative connotations: murky water and murky politics, preserving the sense of not easily seen or understood. The semantic shift emphasizes a handling of visibility and understanding—where clarity is absent, whether in the material or abstract sense—thus keeping a consistent link to light, opacity, and ambiguity across centuries.
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Help others use "murky" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "murky" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "murky" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "murky"
-rky sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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