purr
/pɝ/verb, noun, interjection
purr is spelled P-U-R-R: 4 letters and one syllable. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 39,336th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, purr means “To make a vibrating sound in its throat when contented or in certain other conditions” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in purr?
| Letters | 4: P-U-R-R |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 39,336th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Sounds like | |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is purr?
Purr appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 39,336th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce purr?
- UK /pɜː/
- US /pɝ/
- /pʌr/
Purr has one syllable (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-purr.wav, En-us-per.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with purr
Sounds like: per (Wiktionary's homophone list; some hold only in some accents).
Also written: period.
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
What rhymes with purr?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as purr from its last stressed vowel (/ɜɹ/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of purr
- purrs present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- purring participle, present
- purred participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does purr mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To make a vibrating sound in its throat when contented or in certain other conditions.
- 2
To say (something) in a throaty, seductive manner.
- 3
To make a vibrating throaty sound, as from pleasure.
He purred like a kitten when she massaged his neck.
- 4
To spend time enjoying and expressing pleasure (over something); to coo; to enthuse.
- 5
To make a low and consistent rumbling sound.
noun
- 1
The vibrating sound made by a cat in its throat when contented.
- 2
A throaty, seductive sound of pleasure made by a person.
- 3
The low consistent rumble made by an engine at slow speed
interjection
- 1
Vibrating sound made by a cat.
- 2
slangAlternative form of period.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Purr in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | ronronner , dire d'une voix suave et posée , ronron, ronronnement |
| German | schnurren , Schnurren |
| Portuguese | ronronar , ronrom, rom-rom |
| Spanish | ronronear , ronroneo, jirjir |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does purr come from?
Onomatopoeic.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).