How to Pronounce Uranus

Last Updated: January 20, 2022 References

There are several ways to pronounce "Uranus", and none of them are necessarily incorrect. They are, however, appropriate in different settings. If you don't want people to laugh, pronounce the name the way that astronomers and physicists pronounce it: "Yurr-en-us". If you want to generate a few snickers from your audience, feel free to use the more vulgar pronunciation: "Yurr-ay-nus", which sounds like "Your anus".

Steps

1
Pronounce "Uranus" the way that physicists and astronomers do. If you'd like to be taken seriously, this is the way to go. There are several acceptable pronunciations.
- Say "Yurr-en-us", "Yurr-ann-us", "You-ren-us", or "You-ran-us".^{[1]
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- Say "Yurr-in-us", but be aware that some people may hear this as "Urine us"--less overtly vulgar than "Your anus", to be sure, but still perhaps not the best choice if you want to be taken seriously.
- Say each of these pronunciations aloud and decide which you like best. Practice pronouncing the name in your head when you read it, and practice pronouncing the name in conversation. Over time, your chosen pronunciation will become second-nature to you.
2
Listen to documentaries and lectures about the planet Uranus. Take your cues from famous physicists and lecturers, and you will be sure to get the pronunciation right:
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3
Understand why the "Yurr-AY-nus" pronunciation of "Uranus" is sometimes considered vulgar.
- Break the word into three syllables: "Ur", "An", and "Us". Many people pronounce the "A" as "ay" or "ey (a long "A") and re-distribute the syllables as "Ur", "A", and "Nus". This makes the word sound uncannily like "Your anus"--which may be humorous to some people, and offensive to others.^{[2]
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- The "Yurr-AY-nus" pronunciation may seem especially apt because Uranus is a gas giant, swirling with high concentrations of toxic methane.
4
Learn the etymology of the name. "Uranus" or "Ouranos" is the ancient Greek name for the primal sky god, the personification of the sky itself, who was said to be the ancestor of the Greek gods.^{[3]
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- Most of the planets in our solar system are named after ancient gods, but most of these names are Roman names: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto. Uranus is the only Greek name.^{[4]
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- Uranus was named thus by the German astronomer Johann Elert Bode. He argued that the Roman god Saturn (equivalent to the Greek titan Cronos) was said to be the father of Jupiter (equivalent to the Greek god Zeus), and the planet Saturn was further from the sun than the planet Jupiter, so the next-furthest planet from the sun should be named for the father of Saturn: Uranus.^{[5]
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- It is also acceptable to use the Greek name when referring to the planet. Say "Or-ann-os" or "Or-ah-nos".

Community Q&A

Question

How do I stop myself laughing when I say it?

Evie Edgell

Community Answer

Use another pronunciation if it is stopping you from saying the rest of what you meant to say. To stop laughing, imagine a joke that you've heard lots of times to the point where it isn't funny.