3 syllables: an, nounce, r. Stress on nounce.
uh-NOWN-sur
/əˈnaʊnsɚ/
announcer is pronounced uh-NOWN-sur (/əˈnaʊnsɚ/). It has three syllables (an-nounce-r), with the stress on "nounce". Announcer refers to a person who presents information, especially on radio or television, often delivering announcements, introductions, or narration. The term implies a formal speaking role, clarity, and steady delivery to inform or guide listeners. It emphasizes voice quality, timing, and enunciation to convey messages effectively in live or recorded formats.
Announcer refers to a person who presents information, especially on radio or television, often delivering announcements, introductions, or narration. The term implies a formal speaking role, clarity, and steady delivery to inform or guide listeners. It emphasizes voice quality, timing, and enunciation to convey messages effectively in live or recorded formats.
"The announcer opened the broadcast with a clear, confident introduction."
"Fans heard the stadium announcer call the starting lineups and names."
"The sport’s announcer kept the crowd engaged with precise, paced commentary."
Pronounce as uh-NOUN-sər with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US: /əˈnaʊnsər/. In careful speech the n of ‘ann’ links smoothly to the /aʊ/ diphthong, and the final syllable is a light /sər/ rather than a hard ‘er’. Think: “uh-NOUN-sir” with a soft ending. For reference, you can listen to broadcast samples on Pronounce or audio dictionaries to hear the exact rhythm.
Two frequent errors: (1) stressing the first syllable instead of the second, saying /ˈæn.aʊnsər/ like ‘AN-ow-nsər’ instead of /əˈnaʊnsər/. (2) pronouncing the final /ər/ as a full vowel rather than a schwa-plus-r, giving /ər/ as a hard ‘er’ sound. Correct by keeping a light, quick /ər/ or /ɚ/ in non-rhotic speech. Practice with minimal pairs: announcer vs. announcer (accents differ).
In US English you hear /əˈnaʊnsər/ with rhotic /ɹ/ in the final syllable and a clear /ˈnaʊn/. In UK English, you often reduce the final syllable to /-nə/ or /-nə/ with weaker rhotics, giving /əˈnaʊnsə/. Australian tends toward /əˈnaʊnsə/ with a broad, slightly flatter vowels and a non-rhotic or mildly rhotic ending depending on speaker. Maintain the /aʊ/ diphthong and keep the second syllable stressed in all varieties. IPA references help confirm subtle shifts.
The word presents a consonant cluster with /n/ + /aʊ/ that challenges timing between the nasal and the diphthong, plus the final /ər/ sound that can drift toward a full vowel or a clipped schwa. The main difficulty is achieving a crisp, non-elided middle syllable while maintaining a light, precise ending. Focusing on the /ˈnaʊn/ nucleus and a swift, relaxed /sər/ helps stabilize the rhythm.
No letters are silent in announcer. Each syllable carries a voiced or /s/ cluster. The consonant sequence /n/ followed by /aɪ/ would be a misleading assumption, but here you have a straightforward syllable break: a-nnoun-cer, with no silent letters. Emphasize the Os and Rs according to accent, but all letters contribute to pronunciation.
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Announcer comes from the verb announce, which traces to Latin annuntiare, combining annus (year) or ad- (toward) with nuntiare (to proclaim, report). The noun form appears in English in the 16th–17th centuries as a person who proclaims or proffers information publicly. Early uses emphasized proclaimers of news or declarations. As broadcasting expanded in the 20th century, “announcer” became specialized for radio and television voices who introduce segments, deliver news, or cue programs. The meaning widened to include any official speaker who provides information in a formal, audible manner. Its evolution reflects the shift from written proclamations to oral performance in media, where clear diction and consistent rhythm became essential. First known uses exist in early modern print referring to heralds or messengers, and later to radio voices as mass media emerged. By mid-20th century, “announcer” had a widely recognized professional sense in broadcasting, synonymous with the voice of a program, often paired with terms like “radio announcer” or “television announcer.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "announcer" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "announcer"
-cer sounds
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