2 syllables: Oc, cur. Stress on cur.
uh-KUR
/əˈkɝ/
Occur is pronounced uh-KUR (/əˈkɝ/). It has two syllables (Oc-cur), with the stress on "cur". Occur is a verb meaning to happen or take place. In everyday use it refers to events arising or coming into existence, or to something that arises spontaneously. It often appears in phrases like “to occur to someone” (to come to mind) and is commonly found in both formal writing and academic contexts.
nounOccur is a verb meaning to happen or take place. In everyday use it refers to events arising or coming into existence, or to something that arises spontaneously. It often appears in phrases like “to occur to someone” (to come to mind) and is commonly found in both formal writing and academic contexts.
How to Pronounce Occur
"An accident occurred on the highway during the morning rush."
"Problems may occur if the software is not updated."
"The idea occurred to me while reading the report."
Pronounced ə-KUR (US: /əˈkɜːr/, UK/AU: /əˈkɜː/). Stress on the second syllable, with a rhotacized 'er' sound. Start with a schwa for the first syllable, then a strong, mid-back rounded vowel in the second, ending with an 'r' sound in rhotic accents. Think: uh-KUR. For audio cues, listen to native speakers saying occur in contexts like “an accident occurred.”
Common errors include pronouncing it as oh-CUR (omitting the initial schwa) or as AK-wer with an 'w' glide. The correct is uh-KUR with the second syllable stressed and a clear /ɜː/ (UK/AU) or /ɜ˞/ (US rhotic). Ensure the first syllable is relaxed (ə) and avoid over-enunciating the first vowel. Keep the tongue relaxed mid-back, and end with a tight but not metallic 'r'.
US English: /əˈkɜ˞r/ with rhotic /r/ and a fuller /ɜ˞/ vowel. UK English: /əˈkɜː/ with non-strong post-vocalic ‘r’ (non-rhotic) and a longer /ɜː/ vowel. Australian English: /əˈkɜː/ similar to UK, with a slightly closer fronted vowel and a can be softer rhoticity depending on speaker. In all, the main variance is rhoticity and vowel length, not consonant changes.
Two main challenges: the schwa in the first syllable combined with a strong secondary stress on the second syllable, and the mid/back rounded vowel /ɜ˞/ that doesn’t have a perfect one-to-one sound in all accents. Practically, beginners may flatten the first syllable to a clear 'oh' or overemphasize the second syllable. Focus on keeping the first syllable relaxed and letting the second carry the primary vowel quality.
The phrase occur to someone ›ō-kur-toh-someone is a near-homophone of “okay, you’re” in rapid speech in some dialects, but the standard is stressed second syllable with a clear /k/ followed by an /ɜ˞/ or /ɜː/. The unique aspect is the light, quick onset of the second syllable after a reduced first syllable, which can be challenging for non-native ears.
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Occur comes from the Latin occurre, from ob- ‘toward’ + currere ‘to run, to go, to proceed.’ It entered Middle English via Old French occurrer. The sense of ‘to happen’ evolved from ‘to run toward’ or ‘to come about’ as events unfold or come into being. The word carried a more physical sense of approaching or meeting a destination before broadening to its modern meaning of events taking place. In legal and formal registers, occur often appears in phrases like ‘it would occur that…’ or ‘to occur to’ (to come to mind). First known use in English appears in the 14th–15th centuries, with attestations in legal and scholastic Latin-influenced texts, reflecting its shift from motion toward happening and the cognitive sense of arising ideas that may occur to someone. The spelling stabilised over time, aligning with related forms in other languages that preserve the root curr- ‘to run’ as a metaphor for events unfolding or ideas arising.
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Help others use "Occur" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Occur" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Occur" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Occur"
-cur sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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