Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

berth

/bɜːθ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.44 in modern English

Syllables
berth
IPA
/bɜːθ/
10
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Chiefly in wide berth: a sufficient space in the water for a ship or other vessel to lie at anchor or manoeuvre without getting in the way of other vessels, or colliding into rocks or the shore.

noun

Chiefly in wide berth: a sufficient space in the water for a ship or other vessel to lie at anchor or manoeuvre without getting in the way of other vessels, or colliding into rocks or the shore.

noun

Chiefly in wide berth: a sufficient space in the water for a ship or other vessel to lie at anchor or manoeuvre without getting in the way of other vessels, or colliding into rocks or the shore.

noun

Chiefly in wide berth: a sufficient space in the water for a ship or other vessel to lie at anchor or manoeuvre without getting in the way of other vessels, or colliding into rocks or the shore.

noun

A bunk or other bed for sleeping on in a caravan, a train, etc.

noun

A place for a vehicle on land to park.

Example Sentences

Etymology

The noun is derived from Late Middle English birth (“(nautical) bearing away or off, clearance, berth”). Further etymology uncertain, but probably from beren (“to carry (away), bear”) + -th (suffix denoting a condition, quality, state of being, etc., forming nouns); if so, the English word is analysable as bear + -th (suffix forming nouns from verbs), and is a piecewise doublet of birth. The verb is derived from the noun.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /bɜːθ/
  • British English: /bɜːθ/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Homonyms

Antonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce berth?
The recorded pronunciation is /bɜːθ/.
What does berth mean?
Chiefly in wide berth: a sufficient space in the water for a ship or other vessel to lie at anchor or manoeuvre without getting in the way of other vessels, or colliding into rocks or the shore.
Where does berth come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce berth

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “berth”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/bɜːθ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “berth”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “berth” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.