How to Pronounce “quinceañera”

American (US)

/ˌkiːnseɪənˈjerə/

British (UK)

/ˌkɪnseɪænˈjeərə/

noun — The fifteenth birthday and particularly the celebration and ceremony surrounding it for a young Latina woman.

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

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌkiːnseɪənˈjerə/ 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 "quinceañera" mean?

quinceañera (noun): The fifteenth birthday and particularly the celebration and ceremony surrounding it for a young Latina woman.

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

American English: /ˌkiːnseɪənˈjerə/. British English: /ˌkɪnseɪænˈjeərə/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "quinceañera"?

/ˌkiːnseɪənˈjerə/ in American English, /ˌkɪnseɪænˈjeərə/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "quinceañera"?

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