How to Pronounce "favour"
The correct pronunciation of "favour" is FAY-vur /ˈfeɪvə/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "FAY-vour" habit for good.
favour
/ˈfeɪvə/A kind act done to help someone; approval or support.
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Record yourself saying “favour” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "FAY-vour" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying 'FAY-vour' or 'fay-VOOR' with a strong 'our'/'oor' ending, reading 'our' as written. | FAY-vur /ˈfeɪvə/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | First syllable (FAY). |
How Do You Pronounce "favour"?
"favour" is pronounced FAY-vur /ˈfeɪvə/. The stress is on the first syllable (FAY). As a noun, it means a kind act done to help someone; approval or support.
The 'our' is a soft, weak 'ur' (a schwa), not a full 'our' or 'oar': FAY-vur.
Note: British spelling 'favour' and US spelling 'favor' sound identical: FAY-vur. US IPA /ˈfeɪvɚ/ has an r-coloured ending.
Say "favour" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
FAY-vur — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
First syllable (FAY). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
The 'our' is a soft, weak 'ur' (a schwa), not a full 'our' or 'oar': FAY-vur.
Blend and repeat
Now say "favour" at normal speed: FAY-vur. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "favour" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
day → fay → FAY-vur
The stressed part has the long 'ay' of 'day'.
NOT fay-VOOR — FAY-vur
The ending is a weak 'ur', not a strong 'oor'.
Say at speed: "Do me a favour."
Strong 'FAY', weak 'vur' at the end.
Why "favour" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
Indian speakers pronounce 'our' fully as it looks, but this unstressed ending reduces to a weak 'ur'.
Tip: Say FAY (long 'ay') then let the ending fall away softly: FAY-vur.
Hear “favour” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
Can you do me a favour?
She asked for a small favour.
He returned the favour.
Words Related to "favour"
Now say it inside a sentence
Getting "favour" right on its own is the easy part. Pronunciation only sticks in connected speech. Read a passage aloud and get scored on accuracy and pace, word by word — free, no login.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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