3 syllables: Cal, va, ry. Stress on Cal.
KAL-vur-ee
/ˈkælvɚi/
Calvary is pronounced KAL-vur-ee (/ˈkælvɚi/). It has three syllables (Cal-va-ry), with the stress on "Cal". Calvary is a proper noun referring to a hill outside Jerusalem traditionally believed to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion; it is used metaphorically for suffering or martyrdom as well. In Christian contexts, the term appears as a place name in religious texts and liturgy. The word is most commonly encountered as a historical and religious reference, rarely as a general noun in modern speech.
nounCalvary is a proper noun referring to a hill outside Jerusalem traditionally believed to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion; it is used metaphorically for suffering or martyrdom as well. In Christian contexts, the term appears as a place name in religious texts and liturgy. The word is most commonly encountered as a historical and religious reference, rarely as a general noun in modern speech.
How to Pronounce Calvary
"She visited Calvary during her study trip to Jerusalem."
"The sermon drew a comparison between personal sacrifice and Calvary."
"Several hospitals and churches are named after Calvary in Christian communities."
Calvary is pronounced as /ˈkæl.və.ri/ in US English and /ˈkæl.və.ri/ in UK English; Australian English follows the same pattern, with the final vowel slightly nearer to a schwa. Primary stress falls on the first syllable: CAL-va-ry. Break it into three syllables: CAL (mouth opens wide, tongue low), vuh (unstressed, relaxed middle), ry (ee or ee-ree quality). For clarity, listen to model audio and mimic the rhythm: strong first syllable, gentler second, clear final syllable.
Common errors include misplacing stress on the second syllable (cal-VA-ry) or slurring the middle vowel to an unclear schwa. Some speakers also pronounce the final syllable as ‘ree’ with a longer ‘i’ sound; correct is a brief ‘ri’ with a relaxed, reduced vowel. Ensure the first syllable uses a clear /æ/ as in cat, the middle as /ə/ (schwa), and the last as /ri/ with a short, clipped ‘i’. Practice deliberate, even syllable timing.
All three accents share the CAL- syllable with /æ/; however, US and UK tend to conserve the /ˈkæl.və.ri/ pattern with a clear schwa in the middle; Australian English follows closely but may show a slightly broader vowel in the second syllable, and nonrhotic tendencies may influence the vowel quality subtly. The final syllable remains /ri/ in all, but vowel quality can vary marginally due to rhotic influence and vowel reduction differences.
The difficulty centers on three factors: maintaining a three-syllable rhythm with even stress on the first syllable, producing a clear middle schwa without over-articulating it, and shaping a crisp final /ri/ without turning it into /riː/ or /riə/. Also beware of conflating with words like ‘Calvary’ vs ‘cavalry’ or ‘Calvary’ vs ‘Calvary’s’ possessive forms; keep distinct boundaries between syllables and avoid running them together.
Does the 'Cal-' portion ever reduce in rapid speech? In careful, standard pronunciation, the first syllable remains strong with /æ/ and a clear SAW-like onset; in rapid speech you might hear a slight reduction, but typically not to a full schwa. In careful diction, keep /ˈkæl/ clearly separated from /və/ and /ri/ to preserve the word’s integrity and recognition, especially in reading or sermon contexts.
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US: /ˈkæl.və.ɹi/; rhotic with a clear /ɹ/ in the final syllable; middle /ə/ is a true schwa. UK: /ˈkæl.və.ɹi/; non-rhoticity doesn’t affect this word much due to final syllable, but vowel quality in /ə/ can be tighter. AU: /ˈkæl.və.ɹi/; similar to US, often with a slightly broader vowel in the middle; ensure the final /ɹ/ is mildly a tap or approximant depending on speaker. IPA references align with US/UK dictionaries; listen to models on Forvo or YouGlish for variations.
Calvary derives from the Latin Calvaria, from the Greek Kalyvarion or Kalyvar|ion, ultimately from aramaic Qurya?—the root term for ‘calvary’ signifying ‘skull-shaped hill’ or ‘place of skulls.’ The term entered Latin via liturgical and ecclesiastical use to name Golgotha, the hill of crucifixion. Early English translations used Calvarie (Middle English) and Calvary, reflecting medieval Latin manuscripts in religious context. The shift to a generic reference to “Calvary” as a symbol of Christ’s crucifixion solidified in Christian English literature from the 14th to 16th centuries, paralleling the veneration of the site. The name became widespread in Western Christianity, appearing in hymnography, sermons, and placenames, retaining its sanctified connotation and ultimate association with sacrifice and redemption.
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Words that rhyme with "Calvary"
-ary sounds
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