3 syllables: bur, ling, ton. Stress on bur.
/ˈbɝlɪŋtən/
Say it backBurlington is a proper noun and place-name typically used for towns or riverside locations in various countries. In general usage, it functions as a nominal identifier and is pronounced as a two-stress word when spoken in English, with primary stress on the first syllable. The term carries characteristic rhotics and vowel qualities typical of English place-names, and its pronunciation can be influenced by local dialects and the surrounding phonetic environment.
- Common Mistake 1: Not articulating the /l/ clearly, blending it with the preceding vowel, which makes the word sound like /ˈbɜːɹɪŋtən/. Correction: Hold a light, lateral /l/ with the tongue tip lightly contacting the alveolar ridge; don’t let the /ɜː/ color bleed into /l/. - Common Mistake 2: Stress misplacement or secondary stressing the second syllable, which flattens the word: BUR-ling-ton. Correction: Keep primary stress on the first syllable, and rehearse with a metronome to emphasize /ˈbɜːrlɪŋtən/. - Common Mistake 3: The /t/ becomes a silent or glottal stop in casual speech before the vowel in casual speech, producing /ˈbɜːlɪn̩tən/. Correction: Pronounce a clear alveolar /t/; add a slight release. - Common Mistake 4: The final /ən/ reduces to /n/ or /ən/ too aggressively; correction: keep the final schwa-like vowel and the nasal stop together for a clean ended syllable.
"We visited Burlington last summer and walked along the waterfront."
"The Burlington coat factory supplied everything we needed for the event."
"Burlington, Vermont is known for its scenic views and liberal arts scene."
Pronounce as BUR-ling-ton, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU typically /ˈbɜːrlɪŋtən/ (approx. /ˈbɜːrlɪŋtən/). Start with the open-mid back vowel /ɜː/ (as in 'bird'), then /l/, then /ɪ/ for the second vowel, then /ŋ/ and /tən/ endings. Mouth positions: lips neutral to slightly rounded on /ɜː/, tongue mid-back, back of tongue raised, alveolar closure for /t/, soft palate relaxed. You’ll feel the /r/ sound in rhotic accents. Audio reference: you can compare with native speakers in pronunciation dictionaries or speech apps.
Common errors: (1) Dropping the /l/ or blending it into the preceding vowel, producing /ˈbɜɹɪŋtən/; (2) Misplacing stress on the second syllable, saying /ˌbɜːrlɪŋˈtən/; (3) Misarticulating the /ɜː/ as a short /ɜ/ or /ɪ/; (4) Softening the /t/ to a flap before /ən/. Corrections: hold the /l/ clearly as a light lip-tap, ensure primary stress on BUR-; maintain /ɜː/ quality; pronounce /t/ as a true alveolar stop; ensure the final /ən/ with a clear schwa-like vowel before n. Practicing with minimal pairs helps reinforce the /l/ and /t/ clarity.
In US English, you’ll hear a rhotic /r/ and the /ɜː/ vowel in the first syllable, with a clear /tən/ ending. UK English often uses a similar /ˈbɜːlɪŋtən/ but may have slightly drier vowels and less rhoticity depending on region; some speakers replace /ɜː/ with a shorter /ɜ/ in non-rhotic contexts. Australian English retains rhoticity but commonly broadens vowels; the /ɜː/ can tilt toward /ɜː/ or /ɜ/. Overall, the main differences are vowel quality and rhotic behavior across regions. IPA references align with /ˈbɜːlɪŋtən/ with regional adjustments.
It challenges because of the cluster /rl/ following the initial vowel, the /l/ and /r/ sequence can blur into a single sound for some speakers, and the unstressed second syllable /tən/ can reduce. The /ɜː/ vowel in American and British variants requires a mid-back tongue height and rounded lips. Mastering the clear /l/ before the /ɪ/ and keeping /ŋ/ distinct before /t/ is essential. Practice with controlled pacing and tongue-position awareness; recording helps reveal subtle slippage in the /l/ and /n/ transitions.
Yes—two points: the precise /ɜː/ vowel in the first syllable and the clear light /l/ following the vowel. Also, maintaining a stable /t/ before the schwa-like ending /ən/ is crucial. Focus on the position of your tongue to avoid reanalyzing the sequence as /ɜːr/; keep /r/ smooth without pulling/lifting the following consonant too early. A consistent first-syllable stress helps the overall rhythm and clarity of the word.
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- US: Preserve rhotic /ɹ/ in the first syllable, ensure the /ɜː/ is a long open-mid vowel; keep the /l/ distinct and avoid tying it to the /ɹ/. - UK: Vowel tends toward a shorter /ɜː/ with less rhotic emphasis; maintain the clear /l/ and the /tən/ ending; watch for non-rhoticity in some regional varieties. - AU: Rhotic with a slightly broader vowel in /ɜː/; ensure /l/ is light and forward; keep /tən/ crisp rather than nasalized. IPA references: /ˈbɜːlɪŋtən/ across accents, with regional vowel length adjustments and rhotic behavior.
Burlington originates from Old English and French influences common in English place-names. The element burh or borough (from Old English burg, meaning fortified town) combined with -lington or -ington, a common suffix in English toponyms indicating a settlement or estate associated with a person or feature. The earliest forms appear in medieval charters and maps, where Burlington often referred to a manor or fortified hill belonging to a lord named something akin to Burhling or Burling. The Burlington name proliferated across English-speaking regions during colonization and expansion of towns, and the pronunciation has evolved with regional dialects. In American usage, Burlington towns often adopt the local stress pattern and vowel qualities of their region, while retaining the historical root forms. The modern form Burlington is typically pronounced with two syllables and a primary stress on the first syllable in many dialects, though some local accents may shift vowel qualities or reduce consonants in casual speech. First attested usages converge around the medieval period for English locales and were later adopted in North America as settlers founded places carrying the same designation.
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Words that rhyme with "burlington"
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