How to pronounce "occur"

occur

Noun
American
/əˈkɜɹ/

Syllable Breakdown

oc cur

How natives say occur

British
/əˈkɜː/

Syllable Breakdown

oc cur

How natives say occur

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the schwa sound like 'uh'.

  • Add the stress on the second syllable with the 'kur' sound.

  • End with a slight 'r' sound.

Common Mistakes

  • o-ker (wrong stress)

  • ah-kur (wrong vowel sound)

  • oc-ur (missed schwa at the start)

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the schwa sound like 'uh'.

  • Add stress on the second syllable with the 'kur' sound.

  • Do not roll the 'r' at the end.

common mistakes

  • occur (spelling pronunciation)

  • oc-ker (wrong stress)

  • ek-ur (wrong vowel sound)

FAQ

Why is the first syllable unstressed?

The first syllable is a schwa and is naturally unstressed.

How do I pronounce the 'r' in American English?

Keep the tongue tight at the back and pronounce 'r' clearly.

Is the British 'r' silent?

Yes, in British English the 'r' is not pronounced.

Definition

occur

To happen or take place.

Word Family

occurrence

/əˈkɜːrəns/

noun

An instance of something happening.

Example: Snowfall is a rare occurrence here.

recur

/rɪˈkɜːr/

verb

To happen again.

Example: This problem may recur.

concur

/kənˈkɜːr/

verb

To agree or have the same opinion.

Example: I concur with your ideas.

Key Pronunciation Differences

Occurrence has three syllables with stress on the second.

Recur has stress on the second syllable and starts with 're'.

Concur starts with 'con' and ends with a clear 'r'.

Pro Tips

Focus on the Schwa

Remember that 'occur' begins with a schwa sound which is always unstressed.

Listen to British vs American

Notice the lack of 'r' in British pronunciation to distinguish accents.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Occur

adjoin

/əˈdʒɔɪn/

apartment

/əˈpɑrt.mənt/

applicable

/ˈæplɪkəbl̩/

arise

/əˈraɪz/

avenue

/ˈæv.ə.nuː/

backstage

/bækˈsteɪdʒ/

bench

/bɛntʃ/

beside

/bɪˈsaɪd/