Cana is a feminine or place-name noun used in religious, historical, and geographic contexts. It often refers to the biblical Cana of Galilee, or to regions bearing the name in various countries. The term is accented on the first syllable and is typically pronounced with two syllables in English usage, depending on the speaker’s background.
"The wedding at Cana is described in the Gospel of John."
"She traced her ancestry back to Cana in the region near Galilee."
"A small village named Cana sits along the river."
"Researchers study Cana-related artifacts to understand early Jewish-Raelian communities."
Cana originates from biblical Hebrew/Qenes? (qaná) or aramaic roots referring to a Cana-like place, later Latinized as Cana. The term appears in early Judeo-Christian texts to denote a village or country district in Galilee where Jesus performed miracles, notably turning water into wine. Over centuries, Cana became a proper noun used in Christian liturgy and travel descriptions. In European languages, Cana took on geographic usage in toponymy, indexing places in the Levant and beyond. The English adoption of Cana as a proper noun preserves the reference to the biblical site as well as newer settlements named Cana. First known uses appear in mss. of the New Testament-era texts and early Latin translations; the word gradually entered vernacular geography and colonial-era naming. In modern times, Cana appears as both a biblical toponym and a common surname in Iberian and Levantine communities, reflecting the historical flow of people and faith across the Mediterranean basin.
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Words that rhyme with "Cana"
-ana sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as two syllables with stress on the first: /ˈkeɪ.nə/. Start with the leading diphthong /eɪ/ as in cake, then a light schwa- or /ə/ ending. Keep the first syllable crisp, second syllable unstressed, and end with a soft 'nə' sound. Audio guidance: listen for native-like /ˈkeɪ.nə/ in biblical or geographic mentions.
Common errors: saying /ˈkæ.nə/ with a short 'a' as in cat, or stressing the second syllable as /kə-NA/. To correct: use /ˈkeɪ.nə/ with the long /eɪ/ in the first syllable, and place primary stress on the first syllable. Ensure the second syllable is reduced: /nə/ rather than /na/ with a bright vowel.
In US/UK/AU, the first syllable uses the /eɪ/ diphthong in /ˈkeɪ.nə/, but vowel quality may shift slightly: US often a tad tenser before /n/, UK may have a slightly rounded /eɪ/ and AU may sound a touch broader. All retain primary stress on the first syllable, with a reduced second syllable.
The difficulty lies in the exact /eɪ/ realization and maintaining two clear syllables with reduced second syllable. Speakers sometimes misplace the stress or turn /ə/ into /æ/ or /aː/. Focus on crisp /ˈkeɪ.nə/ and a relaxed, quickly spoken second syllable to avoid an over-enunciated final vowel.
Yes—the first syllable’s diphthong can be mispronounced as a pure /e/; keep it as /eɪ/ and avoid /iː/ or /ɛ/. The second syllable should be a neutral schwa or near-schwa /ə/, not a full /o/ or /æ/. This helps maintain a natural biblical-town name cadence.
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