How to Pronounce “Worcester”

American (US)

/ˈwʊstər/

British (UK)

/ˈwʊstə/

proper noun — A city and local government district with borough status in and the county town of Worcestershire, England.

Where the stress falls. “Worcester” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈwʊstər/ 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. /ˈwʊstər/ 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 "Worcester" mean?

Worcester (proper noun): A city and local government district with borough status in and the county town of Worcestershire, England.

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

American English: /ˈwʊstər/. British English: /ˈwʊstə/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "Worcester"?

/ˈwʊstər/ in American English, /ˈwʊstə/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "Worcester"?

“Worcester” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈwʊstər/ 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.

How to Pronounce Place Names — Leicester to Spokane, With Audio

Leicester, Norwich, Worcestershire, Loughborough, Edinburgh and Spokane — the collapsed English town names, the -shire rule, and the US towns that split them.

• UK place names
• US place names