How to Pronounce “allegory”

American (US)

/ˈæləˌɡɔɹi/

British (UK)

/ˈælɪɡəɹi/

noun — A story whose characters and events stand for a hidden moral or political meaning.

Example: The novel is an allegory of the war.

Where the stress falls. “allegory” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈæləˌɡɔɹi/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈæləˌɡɔɹi/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "allegory" mean?

allegory (noun): A story whose characters and events stand for a hidden moral or political meaning. For example — The novel is an allegory of the war.

How do you pronounce "allegory" in American vs British English?

American English: /ˈæləˌɡɔɹi/. British English: /ˈælɪɡəɹi/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "allegory"?

/ˈæləˌɡɔɹi/ in American English, /ˈælɪɡəɹi/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "allegory"?

“allegory” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈæləˌɡɔɹi/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.