Century is a noun referring to a period of 100 years. It can also denote a large, implied quantity or era, as in a century of experience or a century-long change. In usage, it often marks time spans in history, journalism, or statistics, and appears in contexts ranging from historical summaries to demographic reporting.
"The museum opened to celebrate its first century since founding."
"Scientists tracked climate trends across the past century."
"She has walked for what felt like a century while waiting for the bus."
"The couple celebrated a century of friendship and collaboration."
Century comes from the Latin centuria, which originally meant a group of one hundred. The root cen- derives from centum, meaning 'one hundred.' In ancient Roman military organization, a centuria was a unit of roughly one hundred soldiers. The term evolved into English via Old French as centurie and century, maintaining the core sense of a hundred-year span. Over time, century broadened to denote long periods or notable durations in various disciplines, including history, science, and statistics, often used in phrases like a century of progress or the nineteenth century. First known use in English dates back to the late 14th century, with the sense of a 100-year period gradually cementing through scholarly and historical writing as the modern temporal unit we rely on today.
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Words that rhyme with "Century"
-ncy sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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In US/UK/AU, century is pronounced with two main syllables: first stressed: /ˈsen.tʃu.ri/ (US: /ˈsen.tʃə.ri/ as a common U.S. variant). The lips and tongue form a light ae to ei transition on the first syllable, followed by /tʃ/ as in 'church,' then /u/ (often reduced to a closer, rounded vowel) and final /ri/ with a lightly pronounced /r/. Tip: keep the /t͡ʃ/ in one motion, not breaking into two sounds. Audio reference: Pronounce or Forvo sample close to /ˈsen.tʃə.ɹi/; listen for the tight /t͡ʃ/ and the short, unstressed middle vowel.
Common errors include saying /ˈsɛn.tjuːˈri/ with an extra syllable or misplacing the stress as /ˈsɛn.tʃuːˈri/. Another frequent issue is producing a pronounced /juː/ sequence instead of the quick /u/ vowel before /r/; speakers may also flatten the /t͡ʃ/ into /t/ or /d͡ʒ/. Correction tips: ensure the second syllable uses a clean /t͡ʃ/ cluster, keep the middle vowel short and unstressed (like a schwa or a near-close vowel), and land stress on the first syllable. Practice with minimal pairs: cen-tur-y vs cen-tury (the latter with crisp /t͡ʃ/ and shorter middle vowel).
In US English you’ll hear /ˈsen.tʃə.ɹi/ with a rhotic /ɹ/ and a possibly reduced middle vowel (schwa). UK English tends toward /ˈsen.tʃjʊ.ri/ or /ˈsen.tʃə.ri/ with non-rhoticity where the final /r/ is not pronounced in many accents. Australian English often has a rounded, slightly longer middle vowel and a prominent /ɹ/ in many speakers, with a possible /ˈsen.tʃə.ɹi/ realization and less vowel reduction. These shifts affect vowel quality and rhotics; listen for the rhotic /r/ and how the /ju/ becomes /u/ or reduced vowel in the medial syllable.
The difficulty comes from the /t͡ʃ/ cluster immediately after a stressed syllable, which requires precise timing to avoid blending with the preceding /n/ sound. The medial vowel can be reduced to a schwa, which alters the perceived rhythm if you over-articulate. Finally, the final unstressed -ry can be subtle, especially for learners not used to unstressed syllables. Focus on clean /t͡ʃ/ release, keep the middle vowel short, and avoid turning /ri/ into a separate stressed unit.
Century has a two-consonant onset in the second syllable (/tʃ/) following the nasals in the first, so you’ll hear a crisp joining sound rather than a quick glide. The second-to-last syllable often carries reduced stress, but in careful speech, the final -ry lands as a light, quick /ri/ that closes the word. Pay attention to the cresting /ˈsen/ portion and avoid inserting a separate vowel before /t͡ʃ/.
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