2 syllables: bur, bank. Stress on bur.
BUR-bangk
/ˈbɝˌbæŋk/
burbank is pronounced BUR-bangk (/ˈbɝˌbæŋk/). It has two syllables (bur-bank), with the stress on "bur". Burbank is a proper noun most commonly referring to a city in California. It can also describe anything related to or resembling this place. In pronunciation guidance, it’s treated as a standard two-syllable proper noun with emphasis on the first syllable.
Burbank is a proper noun most commonly referring to a city in California. It can also describe anything related to or resembling this place. In pronunciation guidance, it’s treated as a standard two-syllable proper noun with emphasis on the first syllable.
"I visited Burbank for the morning flight connection."
"The new suburb has a Burbank-style shopping area with palm trees and open-air cafes."
"He listed a list of Burbank-based studios known for animation."
burbank = /ˈbɜːr.bæŋk/ in US, UK, and AU accents. Start with a stressed first syllable /ˈbɜːr/ where the r-colored vowel sits mid-back with the tongue bunched near the palate; then a short, unstressed second syllable /bæŋk/ with a short a as in 'cat' and a final dark -ng. Keep the /ɜː/ vowel long enough to ensure clear BUR- and do not reduce the first syllable excessively. Think ‘BUR-bank’ with a crisp -bank ending.
Common mistakes: (1) Reducing the first syllable to a short /ə/; (2) Merging /ɜːr/ with /æ/ in the second syllable; (3) Mispronouncing the final /ŋk/ as /ŋ/ or /nk/ without a clear /k/ release. Correct by keeping the first syllable stressed and long, practice /ˈbɜːr/ with a distinct r-coloring, ensure the second syllable is /bæŋk/ with a clear /æ/ and a released /k/. Practice breathy tie-in between syllables to avoid lumpy rhythm.
In US and AU, /ˈbɜːr.bæŋk/, with rhotic r and a light, approximant r coloring the vowel. In many UK contexts, /ˈbɜː.bæŋk/ remains similar but may exhibit slightly less rhoticity depending on speaker; some Northern/Scottish alignments might show subtle vowel length changes. Overall, the rhoticity and the /ɜː/ vowel remain robust in all, with minimal difference in the second syllable’s /æŋk/. Vowel quality variations exist but the two-syllable stress pattern stays the same.
Because it combines a strong vowel /ɜː/ in the first syllable with a rapid /r/ and a crisp /bæŋk/ ending; the r-colored vowel can be tricky for non-rhotic speakers, and the final /ŋk/ cluster requires a quick, controlled release. Also, the sequence /ˈbɜːr.bæŋk/ has a tight two-syllable rhythm that can tempt speakers to flatten the first syllable or blur the final consonant. Practicing vowel length and precise coda release helps.
Yes. The presence of two distinct syllables with a strong RHOTIC-first vowel and a final stop-cluster /ŋk/ requires careful timing to avoid a slurred middle or an over-emphasized second syllable. The pronunciation is stable across dialects, but the challenge lies in maintaining a clear first-syllable vowel and a clean /ŋk/ closure while keeping natural speech pace.
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Burbank derives from place-name toponymy. It is commonly associated with the city of Burbank, California, named after Luther Burbank, a 19th- to early-20th-century American botanist and horticulturist known for his plant breeding work. The surname Burbank itself likely originates from an English or Anglo-Norman habitational name, possibly from a place named Burbank in England, or from a constructed toponym meaning ‘burh’ (fortified settlement) + ‘bank/benk’ (hill or brook). The first known usage in this sense traces to the mid-20th century as the city grew around the studios and media industry in southern California, while the surname has earlier attestations in medieval English records. Over time, “Burbank” as a city identifier became a shorthand for local industry, culture, and geography associated with the area, and as a surname it migrated into corporate and brand names linked to horticulture or media. In practice, the pronunciation and spelling have remained stable, reinforcing its status as a proper noun with two-syllable stress on the first syllable in English-speaking contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "burbank" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "burbank" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "burbank"
-(k) sounds
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