4 syllables: Berk, shire Hath, a, way. Stress on Berk.
burr-shur-HATH-uh-way
/ˈbɜrʃɚ ˈhæθəˌweɪ/
Berkshire Hathaway is pronounced burr-shur-HATH-uh-way (/ˈbɜrʃɚ ˈhæθəˌweɪ/). It has four syllables (Berk-shire Hath-a-way), with the stress on "Berk". Berkshire Hathaway is the name of a large American multinational conglomerate holding company. It is formed from the merger of Berkshire Cotton Goods and Hathaway Manufacturing, and is best known for its diverse investments led by figures such as Warren Buffett. In pronunciation, the two components are typically said as separate word groups with stress on the first syllable of each name.
nounBerkshire Hathaway is the name of a large American multinational conglomerate holding company. It is formed from the merger of Berkshire Cotton Goods and Hathaway Manufacturing, and is best known for its diverse investments led by figures such as Warren Buffett. In pronunciation, the two components are typically said as separate word groups with stress on the first syllable of each name.
How to Pronounce Berkshire Hathaway
"I invested in Berkshire Hathaway for long-term growth."
"During the annual meeting, Berkshire Hathaway's earnings were discussed at length."
"Analysts compared Berkshire Hathaway to other conglomerates in the market."
Pronounce it as BERK-shire HATH-uh-way, with primary stress on BERK- and HATH- in Hathaway. IPA: US /ˈbɜːrkʃɪr ˈhæθəˌWeɪ/. The first word is two syllables with /ɜːr/ as in ‘bird’ plus /k/ and /ʃ/ for ‘kshire’, the second word has three syllables with /hæθ/ and final /weɪ/. Put emphasis on the first syllable of each name to reflect the proper names: BERK-shire and HATH-uh-way. For audio reference, listen to investor briefings, press conferences, or pronunciation-focused resources like Pronounce or YouGlish to hear native usage.
Common errors include flattening the /ˈbɜːrkʃɪr/ to a single syllable or mispronouncing /hæθəˌweɪ/ as –hath-a-way with reduced syllables. Also, speakers often merge the two words too tightly, losing the distinct stress on Berkshire and Hathaway. Correct by isolating each component: BERK-shire and HATH-uh-way, maintaining primary stress on BERK- and HATH-. Use slow practice with a slight pause between words to hear the two-name rhythm.
In US English, the Berkshire part carries strong /ɜːr/ and the Hathaway portion ends with /weɪ/; rhoticity is pronounced. UK English often has less rhoticity, with /ˈbɜːkʃɪə/ and /ˈhæθəˌweɪ/; the /ɜː/ can be less pronounced and the second syllable of Berkshire can reduce to /ˈbɜːkʃɪə/. Australian English tends to be more similar to UK but with broader vowel qualities, and you may hear slightly different vowel lengths. In all accents, maintain the two primary stresses on BERK- and HATH- in Hathaway.
Two challenges stand out: the cluster /ˈbɜːrkʃɪr/ has a tricky /ɜːr/ vowel followed by /rkʃ/; and /ˈhæθəˌweɪ/ includes the dental /θ/ sound combined with a schwa and the diphthong /eɪ/ at the end. The two-word name also involves quick, high-stress syllables that can blur together in fast speech. Focusing on precise tongue positioning for /ɜːr/, /ʃ/ and /θ/ while pausing briefly between names helps clarity.
The unique aspect is the explicit two-name rhythm with stressed first syllables in each word and the dental fricative /θ/ in Hathaway. You’ll hear a clear /ˈbɜːrkʃɪr/ followed by /ˈhæθəˌweɪ/, with attention to the aspirated dental /θ/ and the short vowel in /hæθ/. Keeping the split between Berkshire and Hathaway helps prevent blending that can reduce intelligibility in quick speech.
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Berkshire Hathaway originated from the merger and renaming of two older, distinct businesses in the 20th century. Berkshire refers to Berkshire County in western Massachusetts, while Hathaway stems from the Hathaway Manufacturing Company, a textile producer founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The combined entity became Berkshire Hathaway Inc. after corporate reorganization, adopting the Berkshire name for the parent company formalizing the rebranding. The term Hathaway dates back to family names associated with the textile founder, and Berkshire references the geographic region; both components reflect a business history in manufacturing and later investment. The modern corporation, as it is known today, grew into a major diversified holding company under Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, cementing the Berkshire Hathaway moniker in global finance. The first widely cited use of Berkshire Hathaway in this corporate sense traces to mid-20th-century filings and annual reports, evolving through securities filings into common parlance for the conglomerate’s equity and governance influence.
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Words that rhyme with "Berkshire Hathaway"
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