How to Pronounce “kindergarten”

American (US)

/ˈkɪndəɹˌɡɑːɹt(ə)n/

British (UK)

/ˈkɪndəˌɡɑːt(ə)n/

noun — A school or class for young children before formal schooling begins.

Example: He starts kindergarten in September.

A loanword from German. German for “children’s garden”. The final syllable is -ten, not -ton, and the g is hard — “KIN-der-gar-ten”.

Where the stress falls. “kindergarten” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈkɪndəɹˌɡɑːɹt(ə)n/ 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. /ˈkɪndəɹˌɡɑːɹt(ə)n/ 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 "kindergarten" mean?

kindergarten (noun): A school or class for young children before formal schooling begins. For example — He starts kindergarten in September.

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

American English: /ˈkɪndəɹˌɡɑːɹt(ə)n/. British English: /ˈkɪndəˌɡɑːt(ə)n/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "kindergarten"?

/ˈkɪndəɹˌɡɑːɹt(ə)n/ in American English, /ˈkɪndəˌɡɑːt(ə)n/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "kindergarten"?

“kindergarten” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈkɪndəɹˌɡɑːɹt(ə)n/ 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.