English pronunciation · Words Starting with C
Canterbury Pronunciation
Canterbury is pronounced KAN-ter-be-ree, IPA /ˈkæntɝˌbɛri/.
KAN-ter-be-ree
US /ˈkæntɝˌbɛri/
Syllables: KAN · ter · be · ree (4 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
noun (proper noun): A cathedral city in Kent, England, and the seat of the senior archbishop of the Church of England.
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Canterbury in a Sentence
- The pilgrims in Chaucer are walking to Canterbury.
- Canterbury Cathedral draws visitors all year.
- She read theology at Canterbury.
Common Mispronunciations of Canterbury
Not kan-ter-BER-ee
The bury at the end is never a loud BER. It softens to be-ree in America and shrinks further to bri in England, where locals say KAN-tuh-bri.
Not KAN-tuh-byoo-ree
The spelling bury always behaves like the verb to bury, never like the ury of fury. Keep the b and the vowel touching.
Tip: Every English place name ending in -bury does this: Salisbury, Shrewsbury and Glastonbury all reduce the same way.
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