How to Pronounce Limerick

To pronounce "limerick", say LIM-er-ick — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈlɪməɹɪk/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

limerick

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Accent

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Speed

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3

Syllables

8

Letters

/ˈlɪməɹɪk/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “limerick”

"limerick" has 3 syllables: lim-er-ick.

What does limerick mean?

noun

  1. A humorous, often bawdy verse of five anapaestic lines, with the rhyme scheme aabba, and typically having a 9–9–6–6–9 cadence.

Hear “limerick” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Related words

versepoemnaughtyroguerascalsonnet

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "limerick"?▾

"Limerick" has 3 syllables: lim · er · ick.

What is the IPA transcription of "limerick"?▾

The IPA transcription of "limerick" is /ˈlɪməɹɪk/.

What does "limerick" mean?▾

Limerick: A humorous, often bawdy verse of five anapaestic lines, with the rhyme scheme aabba, and typically having a 9–9–6–6–9 cadence.

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