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Pronounce it as /ˈbæn.ɚ/ in General American; the first syllable is stressed. The /æ/ is like in cat, with a light, quick release. The final /ɚ/ is a rhotacized schwa; your tongue relaxes and the tip may curl slightly toward the center. In careful speech, you can hear it as two vowels, but in rapid speech it often sounds like one syllable introduced by a very brief second vowel. Audio guidance: listen for a crisp /æ/ followed by a light, quick /ɚ/.

Common errors include pronouncing the second syllable as /ɑː/ or /ɐ/ (like ‘ban-ner’ with a broad a), or reducing to a flat /ˈbæn.dər/ without linking the r-colored schwa. Correct by keeping the second vowel as a short, unstressed /ɚ/ and releasing quickly after the /æ/. Use a tiny, quick glide between the two vowels and avoid turning it into a long vowel, which makes it sound like ‘ban-ner’ or ‘ban-nuh’ incorrectly. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the ending.”

In General American, it’s /ˈbæn.ɚ/, with a rhotacized ending. In many UK accents, especially Received Pronunciation, you might hear a more centralized or reduced second vowel, sounding like /ˈbæn.ə/ or /ˈbæn.əː/, with less rhotic after the vowel. Australian English often approaches /ˈbæ.nə/ or /ˈbæn.ə/ with a shorter vowel in the first syllable and a light, non-rhotic second syllable. The main differences are rhoticity and the exact quality of the second vowel, plus occasional vowel length variation in formal diction.

The difficulty hinges on the final rhotic vowel in American accents and the quick transition between the stressed first syllable and the unstressed second. The /æ/ in the first syllable is bright and tense, followed by a short, relaxed /ɚ/ that often reduces in fast speech. Learners may over-articulate the second syllable or substitute a plain /ə/ rather than /ɚ/. Focus on a clean, quick glide from /æ/ to /ɚ/ without adding a vowel length or extra consonants in between.

A unique feature is the subtle rhotacized schwa of the second syllable in US English, yielding /ˈbæn.ɚ/. Some speakers fuse into a near-diphthong or reduce the second vowel more than in other two-syllable words, particularly in rapid speech. The stress is firmly on the first syllable, with the second syllable not fully pronounced as a separate vowel in casual speech. Paying attention to that quick, light final vowel helps distinguish banner from similar words like ‘ban’ and ‘banner’ as a verb form.