How to Pronounce “anniversary”

American (US)

/ˌænɪˈvɝs(ə)ɹi/

British (UK)

/ˌænɪˈvɜːs(ə)ɹi/

Australian (AU)

/ˌænɪˈvɜːs(ə)ɹi/

noun — A day that is an exact number of years (to the day) since a given significant event occurred. Often preceded by an ordinal number indicating the number of years.

Example: Today is the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the war.

Where the stress falls. “anniversary” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌænɪˈvɝs(ə)ɹi/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌænɪˈvɝs(ə)ɹi/ 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 "anniversary" mean?

anniversary (noun): A day that is an exact number of years (to the day) since a given significant event occurred. Often preceded by an ordinal number indicating the number of years. For example — Today is the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the war.

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

American English: /ˌænɪˈvɝs(ə)ɹi/. British English: /ˌænɪˈvɜːs(ə)ɹi/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "anniversary"?

/ˌænɪˈvɝs(ə)ɹi/ in American English, /ˌænɪˈvɜːs(ə)ɹi/ in British English, /ˌænɪˈvɜːs(ə)ɹi/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "anniversary"?

“anniversary” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌænɪˈvɝs(ə)ɹi/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.