Proper Pronunciation Guide

rural

[rʊ͜ɚəɫ]

Tips:

  • Pronounce the first letter “r” as the consonant glide
    /r/.
  • Pronounce the letters “ur” as the “R-Vowel” Diphthong /ʊ͜ɚ/—like the vowel in the word “sure.”
  • Pronounce the letter “a” as the weak schwa vowel
    /ə/.
  • Link from the diphthong /ʊ͜ɚ/ to the schwa
    /ə/ with another consonant glide
    /r/.

Practice Sentences:

 Their address is Rural Route 2.
He was travelling in a rural area of the country.

Definition:

  • (adjective) A part of the land which is sparsely populated and not built up; the countryside.

Notes:

The first syllable of this word, by itself, is a homophone (same pronunciation) with “Ruhr”—the name of a river in Germany as well as the name of its surrounding valley region.

  • Past Week’s Words

    Pronunciation Key for phonetic symbols

    sign up for Spoken Word Power which will have all the Words of the Day since 2004.

    Private Instruction from Brian