English pronunciation · Words Starting with G

Government Pronunciation

Government is pronounced GUH-ver-muhnt, IPA /ˈgəvɝmənt/.

GUH-ver-muhnt

US /ˈgəvɝmənt/  ·  UK /ˈgʌvənmənt/

Syllables: GUH · ver · muhnt (3 syllables, stress on syllable 1)

noun: The group of people who govern a country or state, or the act of governing.

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Government in a Sentence

  • The government announced the changes on Monday.
  • Local government handles refuse and planning.
  • She spent twelve years in government before retiring.

Common Mispronunciations of Government

Not GUH-vern-ment

Native speakers drop the first n almost entirely, leaving GUH-ver-muhnt. The spelling keeps a letter the mouth does not.

Not goh-VERN-ment

The o is the uh of cup, and it is loud only because it comes first. Nothing after it is stressed.

Tip: Three syllables in ordinary speech, not four. The careful four-syllable version sounds like dictation.

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