How to Pronounce Purse

To pronounce "purse", say PURS-e — 2 syllables, IPA /pɜːs/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

purse

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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2

Syllables

5

Letters

/pɜːs/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “purse”

"purse" has 2 syllables: purs-e. It rhymes with terse and coerce, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: perce, pers, pearse, perse — easy to mix up when writing.

What does purse mean?

noun

  1. A small bag for carrying money.
  2. A handbag (small bag usually used by women for carrying various small personal items)

verb

  1. To press (one's lips) in and together so that they protrude.
  2. To draw up or contract into folds or wrinkles; to pucker; to knit.

Synonyms

bursarygrantchange pursecoin pursepocketbookhandbagpucker

Hear “purse” in real sentences

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

Words that rhyme with purse

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

tersecoercediverseinverseperverseadversedispersecurseverseimmerseaversereverse

Related words

pocketbookhandbagbagwrinklepouchtotesackpocket

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "purse"?▾

"Purse" has 2 syllables: purs · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "purse"?▾

The IPA transcription of "purse" is /pɜːs/.

What does "purse" mean?▾

Purse: A small bag for carrying money.

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