How to Pronounce Thirst

To pronounce "thirst", say THIRST — one syllable, IPA /θɜːst/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

thirst

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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Syllable

Letters

/θɜːst/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “thirst”

"thirst" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with coerced and burst, if that helps it stick.

What does thirst mean?

noun

A sensation of dryness in the throat associated with a craving for liquids, produced by deprivation of drink, or by some other cause (such as fear, excitement, etc.) which spots the secretion of the pharyngeal mucous membrane
The condition producing the sensation of thirst.

verb

To be thirsty.
(usually followed by "for") To desire vehemently.
“I thirst for knowledge and education will sate me.”

Synonyms

craving longing

Hear “thirst” 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 thirst

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

coerced burst cursed immersed first outburst cloudburst traversed dispersed interspersed pursed headfirst

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "thirst"?▾

"Thirst" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "thirst"?▾

The IPA transcription of "thirst" is /θɜːst/.

What does "thirst" mean?▾

Thirst: A sensation of dryness in the throat associated with a craving for liquids, produced by deprivation of drink, or by some other cause (such as fear, excitement, etc.) which spots the secretion of the pharyngeal mucous membrane

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