4 syllables: Ce, re, mo, ny. Stress on Ce.
SER-uh-moh-nee
/ˈsɛɹəˌmoʊni/
Ceremony is pronounced SER-uh-moh-nee (/ˈsɛɹəˌmoʊni/). It has four syllables (Ce-re-mo-ny), with the stress on "Ce". Ceremony is a formal event or ritual observed to mark a significant occasion. It also refers to the ceremonial aspects of procedure or tradition, emphasizing decorum, ritual language, and symbolic acts. The word conveys a sense of solemnity and organized formality, often involving deliberate sequence, attire, and spoken elements.
nounCeremony is a formal event or ritual observed to mark a significant occasion. It also refers to the ceremonial aspects of procedure or tradition, emphasizing decorum, ritual language, and symbolic acts. The word conveys a sense of solemnity and organized formality, often involving deliberate sequence, attire, and spoken elements.
- • Overstressing the middle or final syllable (ser-uh-MO-nee) — keep the first syllable as the primary beat. - • Flattening /ɜː/ or mispronouncing the rare vowel in the first syllable; aim for a crisp /ˈser/ with a relaxed jaw. - • Poor vowel distinction between /ə/ and /oʊ/ in the third syllable; practice with minimal pairs: /ə-moʊ/ vs /ɪ-moʊ/.
How to Pronounce Ceremony
"The opening ceremony of the games drew participants from dozens of countries."
"They held a small ceremony to honor the volunteers."
"The wedding ceremony will begin at noon and last about an hour."
US/UK/AU share the same core: /ˈser-ə-moʊ-ni/ in US; UK often /ˈser-ɪ-mə-nɪ/ with a shorter first vowel and a schwa second syllable; AU commonly /ˈsɛr-ə-mə-ni/ with a more open first vowel. Stress remains on the first syllable. Picture the sequence: SER/uh/MOH/nee, with the middle syllable lighter than the stressed first. IPA helps keep the rhythm clear.
Common errors include stressing the second syllable instead of the first (ser-EM-uh-nee), and making the middle vowel overly long or tense. Some speakers reduce /ə/ too bluntly, producing /ˈsər- ə -moʊ- ni/ without a clear internal rhythm. Focus on keeping the first syllable strong and the middle syllable as a light, unstressed schwa.
In US English, the word often sounds /ˈser-ə-moʊ-ni/ with a pronounced second syllable stress-lite, and the middle /ə/ is a soft schwa. UK tends to reduce the /er/ to a tighter /ˈser-ɪ-mə-nɪ/ with a slightly shorter, less rounded first vowel. Australian accents usually align closer to US but may have schwa more centralized and a slightly flatter final /i/.
Three main challenges: the first unstressed syllable boundary blends with /ɪ/ or /ə/ sounds; the /moʊ/ sequence requires a gentle, rounded mid-back vowel that can drift toward /mo/; and maintaining stress on the first syllable while keeping the middle syllable light. Practicing precise vowel quality and syllable timing helps ensure clarity across speeds.
A distinctive aspect is maintaining the shift from a darker /er/ in some speakers’ accents to a lighter /ɪ/ or schwa in the second syllable, while preserving the overall even rhythm. The challenge is not the phonemes alone but the smooth flow between syllables: SER-uh-MOH-nee, with a clear, light middle syllable.
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US: /ˈser-ə-moʊ-ni/ with clear /ɚ/ or /ə/ in the second syllable; non-rhotic tendencies can affect /r/; keep /r/ light. UK: /ˈser-ɪ-mə-nɪ/ with a reduced central vowel in the second syllable and shorter /ɪ/; AU: often /ˈsɛr-ə-mə-ni/ with broader /e/ in the first vowel and a flatter /i/ at the end. All share stress on the first syllable; aim for a relaxed jaw and consistent tempo. IPA references help anchor your mouth positions.
Ceremony comes from the Old French ceremonie, which itself derives from the Latin caeremonia, meaning ‘a religious rite, blessing, or sacred act.’ The root caeremonia is believed to come from Greek hiera ‘sacred’ and mēn ‘moiety, portion,’ reflecting a sense of sacred procedure and formal practice. In Middle English, ceremony expanded beyond strictly religious rites to include secular public rituals and courts’ formalities, preserving its core sense of prescribed, ceremonious action. By the 14th–15th centuries, it had begun to denote not only religious rites but any formal event with established protocol. The modern sense centers on structured observances, symbolism, and ritual language within both ceremonial and formal contexts (e.g., graduations, weddings, state functions). The pronunciation and spelling stabilized in English over centuries, with stress remaining on the first syllable in most varieties, though some regional variations may display slight vowel length differences in connected speech. First known use in English dates to the 14th century, continuing to evolve with social rituals and formal occasions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Ceremony" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Ceremony" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Ceremony"
-ony sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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