2 syllables: Scur, ry. Stress on Scur.
SKUR-ee
/ˈskɝi/
Scurry is pronounced SKUR-ee (/ˈskɝi/). It has two syllables (Scur-ry), with the stress on "Scur". Scurry is a verb meaning to move hurriedly with short quick steps, often in a hurried or nervous way. It conveys rapid, small movements, typically to escape or reach somewhere fast. The word implies urgency and clattering, light footed action rather than a long stride.
verbScurry is a verb meaning to move hurriedly with short quick steps, often in a hurried or nervous way. It conveys rapid, small movements, typically to escape or reach somewhere fast. The word implies urgency and clattering, light footed action rather than a long stride.
"The mice scurry along the edge of the pantry when the lights flip on."
"Children scurry to their desks as the bell rings."
"After hearing the alarm, the cat scurried under the bed."
Common pronunciation is /ˈskɜːri/ in most varieties. The first syllable has a stressed, open sound: /skɜː/. The second is a light /ri/. Ensure the /sk/ cluster is crisp and the /ɜː/ is a mid-back unrounded vowel, followed by a clear /r/ in rhotic accents and a light, unstressed /i/ vowel. Try a brief emphasis on the first syllable, then relax the second: SKUR-ee. For recording, aim for a long /ɜː/ before the final /ri/ so the word doesn’t compress into 'skurry' without vowel length.
Two frequent errors: 1) Flattening the /ɜː/ to a plain /ɜ/ or /ɪ/, which makes it sound like 'sciri.' 2) Losing the vowel length before /ri/, leading to a quick, clipped ending. Correction: hold the /ɜː/ position with a steady, open-mid back tongue posture, then transition cleanly into /ri/ by raising the tongue slightly for a light ‘ee’ vowel without creating a separate syllable. Practice with minimal pairs: scurry vs scoury helps ensure the /ɜː/ stays pronounced and the /ri/ lands correctly.
US/UK/AU all share /ˈskɜːri/, but rhoticity matters: US and AU tend to pronounce the /r/ more strongly in rhotic accents, giving a more pronounced /ɹ/ sound before the final /i/. UK speakers often have a slightly shorter /ɜː/ and may reduce it toward /əː/ in rapid speech. Vowel quality can shift: some UK speakers may have a tenser /ɜː/ while US speakers keep a more rounded /ɜː/. The final /i/ remains a light, unstressed /i/ in all varieties.
The main challenge is the stressed /sk/ cluster followed by a mid back vowel /ɜː/ before a light /ri/ ending. The vowel length and tongue position in /ɜː/ are subtle and non-English learners often mispronounce it as /ɜ/ or /ə/. Additionally, maintaining the crisp /sk/ without inserting extra vowels or softening the /ɜː/ can be tricky in connected speech.
A common scurry-specific question is whether the initial sound is /sk/ or /skr/ in rapid speech. The correct initial cluster is /sk/, and in fast speech some speakers may slightly reduce the vowel length, but you should retain the /ɜː/ vowel and crisp /sk/ onset to preserve intelligibility, especially before a following consonant or in a sentence where it’s not final.
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Scurry comes from the Scots-English scurry, derived from the Old French escorier, meaning ‘to escape or flee’ and ‘to skitter.’ It entered English in the late 16th to early 17th century, originally capturing the action of small animals fleeing in a frenzied, quick manner. The core sense evolved to include any quick, nervous, hurried movement by people as well. The word aligns with other rapid-motion verbs like hurry and scuttle, sharing semantic fields around urgency and light footed movement. Over time, scurry retained its energetic, slightly noisy connotation, often implying a degree of panic or alarm. First known usages appear in Middle English adaptations influenced by Scots and French linguistic contact, with more standardized spelling and pronunciation solidifying by the 18th century. In modern usage, scurry conveys vivid motion suitable for descriptive storytelling or dynamic action scenes.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Scurry" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Scurry" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Scurry"
-rry sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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