An atomizer including a fuel supply passage (5,105,205, 305, 405, 505, 605, 707) for supplying a fuel, an atomizing medium supply passage (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507, 607, 705) for supplying an atomizing medium which is to be mixed with the fuel, a mixing chamber (15, 115, 215, 315, 415, 515, 615, 715) in communication with the fuel supply passage and the atomizing medium supply passage, and spray ports (13d, 113d, 213d, 313d, 413d, 513d, 613d, 713d) for spraying the fluid mixture consisting of the fuel and the atomizing medium from the mixing chamber. The fuel supply passage and the atomizing medium supply passages are communicated with the mixing chamber through a pre-mixing chamber (12, 112, 212, 312,412, 512, 612, 712j having an annular cross-section defined by a large-diameter cylindrical (12b, 112b, 212b, 312b, 412b, 512b, 612b, 712b) surface and a small-diameter cylindrical surface (12a, 112a, 212a, 312a, 412a, 512a, 612a, 712a). The fuel and the atomizing medium supplied from the fuel supply passage and the atomizing medium supply passage are pre-mixed the pre-mixing chamber. With this arrangement, it is possible to efficiently mix a slurry fuel and an atomizing medium, thus reducing the particle size of the atomized fuel particles and shortening the flame length. Thus, the atomizer of the invention is indispensable for the boilers which are intended for burning coal-water slurry. The invention makes it possible to form flames with reduced NOx generation and a high burning efficiency through combina- tion between atomizer of the construction described above and a burner having a specific construction.