2 syllables: Wor, ry. Stress on Wor.
WUR-ee
/ˈwɝi/
Worry is pronounced WUR-ee (/ˈwɝi/). It has two syllables (Wor-ry), with the stress on "Wor". Worry is a verb meaning to feel or cause prolonged anxiety or concern. It involves mental preoccupation with potential problems and can be accompanied by physical signs like a tense jaw or stomach discomfort. In usage, it can describe both personal concern (I worry about exams) and general concern (don’t worry about it).
verbWorry is a verb meaning to feel or cause prolonged anxiety or concern. It involves mental preoccupation with potential problems and can be accompanied by physical signs like a tense jaw or stomach discomfort. In usage, it can describe both personal concern (I worry about exams) and general concern (don’t worry about it).
"I worry about failing the test if I don’t study."
"She tends to worry when plans change at the last minute."
"Don’t worry, the team will handle it."
US: /ˈwɒri/; UK: /ˈwɔːri/; AU: /ˈwɒri/. Start with the /w/ sound, then the stressed first syllable with a short open 'aw' vowel in US (roughly /ɒ/ as in cot); in UK/AU, the vowel is longer, /ɔː/ (like thought). End with a clear /ri/ with a light, quick /r/ followed by a short /i/. Tip: keep the mouth rounded for /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ and avoid turning into /oʊ/ in all but some US dialects. Listen for the two-syllable rhythm: WOR-ry.” ,
Common tensions: 1) Mixing up the vowel— US speakers often use /ˈwɔri/ with a more open /ɔ/; some confuse with /ˈwoʊri/. 2) Overpronouncing the /r/ or making it retroflex; in non-rhotic accents, the /r/ at the end of syllables may be subtle. 3) Not reducing the second syllable; keep it light and quick: WOR-ry, not WORry. Correction: hold a short, lax /ɪ/ or /i/ at the end but avoid a heavy diphthong; aim for a crisp /ri/ rather than a stressed vowel. Practice with a light tongue tip curl.
US typically uses /ˈwɔri/ with a rhotacized end and a shorter vowel in the first syllable; UK and AU lean toward /ˈwɔːri/ or /ˈwɒri/, with a longer first vowel and less pronounced r in non-rhotic varieties. In rhotic US and many Canadian dialects, you’ll hear a pronounced /r/ in WOR- but in UK and AU broad accents, r is less audible in final position, affecting the overall rhythm and timbre. In fast speech, US tends to reduce the final /j/ to a light glide, while UK/AU may have a stronger length difference between syllables.
Two primary challenges: the vowel in the first syllable and the final /ri/. First, the /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ vowel varies by accent and can be tricky to pick the right height and lip rounding: US speakers may hear it as /ɒ/ but often say /ɔ/; UK/AU often hold /ɔː/ or /ɒ/. Second, the final /ri/ involves linking and a quick, light /r/ followed by /i/, which can blur in rapid speech. Mastery requires practicing the two-syllable rhythm and maintaining a short, even second syllable. IPA cues help you position your tongue and lips properly.
A distinctive feature is the two-syllable rhythm with a strong initial stress and a reduced final syllable that often appears as a quick /ri/. The /w/ onset is lightly rounded, and the vowel in the first syllable can shift from /ɒ/ to /ɔː/ depending on dialect. The trailing /r/ in non-rhotic varieties is subtle, which changes perceived syllable weight. Focus on keeping the first vowel compact and the second syllable brief, almost a syllabic ‘ri’ that gives the word its characteristic bounce.
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Worry comes from the Middle English word wori, from Old English worian, related to wōrian, meaning to strangle, choke, or to worry as in gnawing or biting. It has Germanic roots and is cognate with Dutch zorgen and German sorgen, both implying care or concern. The modern sense—to torment oneself with thoughts of potential harm—emerged by the 16th century, gradually broadening from physical oppression to psychological anxiety. Early uses often described the active process of gnawing or biting at a person’s thoughts, matching the image of something internal gnawing away at one’s peace. Over time, worry shifted from a literal sense of choking or strangling to a more abstract worry about future events or outcomes. In contemporary English, worry retains both the affective (emotional) and cognitive (ruminative) dimensions, and appears in gerund form (worrying) to describe ongoing concern or action. First known written attestations surface in Middle English texts, with the sense refining through Early Modern English into modern usage. Although the core idea remains constant—the mental or physical strain caused by anticipated trouble—the contexts expanded to everyday speech, journalism, and clinical descriptions of anxiety.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Worry" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Worry"
-rry sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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