3 syllables: can, ner, y. Stress on can.
/ˈkæ.nə.ɹi/
Say it backCannery refers to a place where foodstuffs, especially fruits or vegetables, are processed and packed in cans. It can also denote the industry or business of canning. The term combines the verb can with the noun -ery, indicating a location or facility specialized in canning operations.
"The tomato cannery on the edge of town employs seasonal workers."
"We toured the old cannery and learned about the canning process and sterilization methods."
"During harvest season, the cannery operates around the clock to meet demand."
Pronounce as CAN-uh-ree with stress on the first syllable: /ˈkænəri/ in IPA for US/UK; the middle vowel is a schwa, and the final -ry is a light, unstressed syllable. Mouth positions: start with a short open front unrounded vowel /æ/, then a neutral schwa /ə/ in the second syllable, and end with /ri/ or /riː/ depending on tempo. For audio reference, listen to standard pronunciations in dictionaries or Pronounce resources for a natural cadence.
Common errors include misplacing stress on the second syllable (CAN-uh-ree mis-stress), pronouncing the middle vowel as a full /ɛ/ or /iː/ rather than a schwa, and elongating the final syllable. Correction: keep CAN as a short /kæ/; reduce the middle to /ə/ quickly; end with a light /ri/ without adding extra vowels. Practice with a slow, steady cadence to preserve the unstressed final syllable.
In US and UK, you’ll find /ˈkænəri/ with a rhotic? US typically rhotic, but the final -ry is not strongly rhotic; UK English also typically non-rhotic for the final /ri/ in casual speech. Australian tends to have a flatter vowel in CAN, with less distinction between /ə/ and /ɐ/ in fast speech. The main differences are vowel quality in CAN (/æ/ vs /æ/), and the degree of rhoticity and vowel reduction in the middle syllable.
Key challenges are the short /æ/ in CAN, the quick schwa /ə/ in the second syllable, and the light, final /ri/ that often becomes a reduced /ri/ or even /riə/ in rapid speech. Maintaining even rhythm across three syllables while avoiding a heavy final syllable requires careful timing, especially in connected speech or rapid listing.
No. All letters in cannery contribute to its three-syllable pronunciation. The ending -ery is not silent; the final r is pronounced in American English and often lightly enunciated in British English. The middle 'n' is a normal consonant sound linking the syllables as /n/ sound; there is no silent letter in standard pronunciation.
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Cannery derives from the word can, meaning a metal container, plus the suffix -ery denoting a place associated with a particular activity. The modern sense developed in English from the 19th century as canning industries expanded in North America and Europe, with plants dedicated to sealing, sterilizing, and packaging foods in metal cans. The term is often used to describe facilities that produce canned goods rather than the broader industry. Historical use emerges in correspondence and business logs of the 1800s, with evidence in newspaper reports of canning operations during peak harvest seasons. The concept of preserving perishable food by sealing in an airtight container existed earlier (17th-18th centuries in various forms), but the English term cannery crystallized as organized, industrial canning grew, supported by advances in metallurgy, food safety, and mass production. First known uses appear in 19th-century American publications discussing shipboard and coastal industries, where canneries became essential for supplying long voyages and expanding domestic markets.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "cannery" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "cannery" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "cannery"
-ery sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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