Capernaum is a proper noun for an ancient town in Galilee, famed as a biblical site. It functions as a specific place name and is pronounced with attention to its loanword origin, typically used in religious, historical, or academic contexts. The term often appears in translations of biblical texts and scholarly discussions.
- You may default to smooth, English-like vowels and drop the central vowel in the second syllable. Correct by practicing /ˌkeɪ-pərˈnɔːm/ with a clear /ər/ or /ə/ in the middle and a long /ɔː/ at the end. - Misplacing stress, such as CA-per-naum, or into CA-PEr-NAU-m. Correction: keep the primary stress on NA-um (third syllable) and prounounce each syllable distinctly. - Slurring the final /ɔːm/ into /ɔːm/ or /æm/. Practice with a long final vowel then /m/ to avoid a clipped ending. - Non-rhotic mispronunciation of the second syllable; remember the /r/ in the US is pronounced and the non-rhotic UK/AU may reduce it.
- US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced; emphasize /ər/ as a light schwa with r-color. Vowel length: final /ɔː/ is long; avoid shortening. - UK: non-rhotic; /r/ not pronounced in coda; keep /ə/ or /ər/ reduced, final /ɔː/ remains. - AU: typically non-rhotic with broad vowels; keep /ɔː/ length; stress pattern remains on the third syllable. - IPA references: US /ˌkeɚˈnɔːm/ or /kəˈpərˌnɔːm/, UK /ˌkeɪ.pəˈnɔːm/, AU /ˌkeɪ.pəˈnɔːm/. Focus on rhoticity and final vowel quality.
"• The gospel account mentions Jesus teaching in Capernaum."
"• Archaeologists conducted excavations at Capernaum to uncover ancient houses."
"• The sermon referenced Capernaum as part of the Galilean ministry."
"• In the lecture, the professor compared Nazareth and Capernaum as centers of early Judean life."
Capernaum originates from the Hebrew/Aramaic name Kefar Nahum, meaning the village (kefar) of Nahum. In Greek, it appears as Kapernaoum or Capernaoum, with the -oum suffix common to Greek transliterations of Semitic place names. The term entered Latin and then English via biblical translations, preserving the assonantal rhythm of the original and the strong stress on the second syllable in many pronunciations. Historical usage centers on biblical geography, with early English translations adopting a pronunciation that reflects Greek and Latin renderings. Over centuries, English speakers have adapted the name to fit English phonology, often emphasizing the second syllable and ending with an -aum sound that approximates /ɔːm/ or /ɒm/ depending on accent. First known uses appear in early modern Bible translations, with Capernaum consistently identified as a town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee and as a critical setting within the life of Jesus as depicted in the New Testament. Contemporary scholarship maintains the original geographic reference while varying in stress placement depending on reader tradition and evangelical or liturgical context.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Capernaum" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Capernaum" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Capernaum"
-oom sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Common pronunciation: /ˌkeɪ-pərˈnɔːm/ (US) or /ˌkeɪ-pəˈnɔːm/ (UK). Break it into syllables: ca-per-NA-um. Place the main stress on the third syllable. Start with /keɪ/ as in cake, then /pər/ or /pə/ for the second syllable, and finish with /ˈnɔːm/ as in 'nawm' with a long o. In Australian English you’ll hear a similar pattern: /ˌkeɪ-pəˈnɔːm/. Use an initial light secondary stress on the first syllable and strong emphasis on the third.
Two frequent errors: (1) misplacing stress on the second syllable (/ˈkeɪ-pə-ruːm/). Correction: keep primary stress on the third syllable: /keɪ-pərˈnɔːm/. (2) Slurring the final -aum into a short /æm/ or /ɒm/. Correction: use a long /ɔː/ followed by /m/ to sound like 'nawm' rather than 'nam'. Be mindful of the middle /ər/ as a light schwa plus r, not a full syllable.
US: /ˌkeɪ-pərˈnɔːm/ with rhotic r and a longer final vowel. UK: /ˌkeɪ-pəˈnɔːm/ where /r/ is non-rhotic, so the /r/ in the second syllable is silent or weakened; final /ɔː/ remains. Australian: often /ˌkeɪ-pəˈnɔːm/ with similar non-rhotic tendency, but vowels can be a bit broader and less centralized; you may hear a slightly shorter /ɔː/ depending on speaker. In all, the key is the third-syllable stress and long final vowel.
Because it blends a non-intuitive Hebrew-derived consonant cluster with a long final vowel. The middle /ər/ uses a schwa plus 'r' that can trip speakers who expect a smoother vowel. The final -aum is not an English spelling pattern; it signals a long /ɔː/ followed by /m/, which some listeners mispronounce as /æm/ or /æ‑m/. Correct articulation requires isolating the syllables CA- per- NA-um with precise vowel lengths and the right r-coloring.
Yes—its name encodes a transliterated Semitic toponym with a two-step vowel pattern: the /ə/ or /ər/ in the second syllable, and the long /ɔː/ in the final syllable. You’ll also negotiate a subtle pause and vowel reduction before the stressed syllable in continuous speech; the word typically projects a careful, formal enunciation in readings or lectures.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Capernaum"!
- Shadowing: listen to a pronunciation clip and imitate in segments: CA-per-NA-um, landing the final /ɔːm/. - Minimal pairs: compare with common place names with similar endings (e.g., room, loom, loom). - Rhythm: practice alternating stressed and unstressed syllables in longer phrases like ‘the town of Capernaum’ to maintain rhythm. - Stress practice: drill the natural third-syllable stress with a short pause before the final /ɔːm/. - Recording: record yourself saying the word in isolation and in sentences; compare to a native speaker and adjust. - Context usage: practice saying, ‘Capernaum is…’ in academic and religious contexts.
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