How to Pronounce “convivial”

American (US)

/kənˈvɪv.i.əl/

British (UK)

/kənˈvɪv.i.əl/

adjective — Having elements of a feast or of entertainment, especially when it comes to eating and drinking, with accompanying festivity.

Example: I spent many a convivial evening at the club.

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

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /kənˈvɪv.i.əl/ 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 "convivial" mean?

convivial (adjective): Having elements of a feast or of entertainment, especially when it comes to eating and drinking, with accompanying festivity. For example — I spent many a convivial evening at the club.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "convivial", /kənˈvɪv.i.əl/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "convivial"?

/kənˈvɪv.i.əl/ in American English, /kənˈvɪv.i.əl/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "convivial"?

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