How to Pronounce “archipelago”

American (US)

/ˌɑːrkɪˈpeləɡoʊ/

British (UK)

/ˌɑːkɪˈpeləɡəʊ/

noun — A group or chain of islands.

Example: The archipelago has more than a hundred inhabited islands.

Where the stress falls. “archipelago” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌɑːrkɪˈpeləɡoʊ/ 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. /ˌɑːrkɪˈpeləɡoʊ/ 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 "archipelago" mean?

archipelago (noun): A group or chain of islands. For example — The archipelago has more than a hundred inhabited islands.

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

American English: /ˌɑːrkɪˈpeləɡoʊ/. British English: /ˌɑːkɪˈpeləɡəʊ/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "archipelago"?

/ˌɑːrkɪˈpeləɡoʊ/ in American English, /ˌɑːkɪˈpeləɡəʊ/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "archipelago"?

“archipelago” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌɑːrkɪˈpeləɡoʊ/ 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.