Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

kerb

/kɝb/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.61 in modern English

Syllables: kerb
IPA: /kɝb/

10

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Alternative spelling of curb.

British usage

verb

To damage vehicle wheels or tyres by running into or over a pavement kerb.

British usage; Transitive verb

verb

To take a dog to the kerb for the purpose of evacuating their bowels.

Example Sentences

"I was fidgeting a bit, because three dogs were sniffing at my ankles in an interested fashion. They were going out to be kerbed[.]"

Etymology

From curb (“raised border or frame”) [from mid-17th c.]. Doublet of curve.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /kɝb/
British English: /kɜːb/

Usage

British usage
Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

kerbs (plural) curb (alternative, US) kirb (alternative, obsolete) kerbs (present, singular) kerbing (participle, present) kerbed (participle, past) kerbed (past)

Derived Forms

kerbless kerblike kerbside kerby

Phrases

drop kerb dropped kerb kerb appeal kerb crawl kerb crawler kerb crawling kerb drill kerb market

Synonyms

curb curbing

Homonyms

curb kirb

Rhymes With

superb curb herb verb disturb serb reverb blurb erb perturb erbe refurb

Questions

How do you pronounce kerb?: The recorded pronunciation is /kɝb/.
What does kerb mean?: Alternative spelling of curb.
Where does kerb come from?: From curb (“raised border or frame”) [from mid-17th c.]. Doublet of curve.

How to pronounce kerb

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