How to Pronounce Work

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

work

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/wɜːk/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “work

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

Sounds exactly like: werke, werk — easy to mix up when writing.

What does work mean?

noun

  1. (heading) Employment.
  2. (heading) Effort.

Hear “work” 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 work

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

Related words

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "work"?

"Work" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "work"?

The IPA transcription of "work" is /wɜːk/.

What does "work" mean?

Work: (heading) Employment.

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