2 syllables: Cher, bourg. Stress on Cher.
SHER-boorg
/ˈʃɛɹbuɹɡ/
Cherbourg is pronounced SHER-boorg (/ˈʃɛɹbuɹɡ/). It has two syllables (Cher-bourg), with the stress on "Cher". Cherbourg is a proper noun referring to a fortified port city in Normandy, France. In English usage it designates the town itself or the surrounding region, and may appear in historical, maritime, or travel contexts. The French pronunciation is most common in French and in formal usage, while English variants occur in literature and media references.
nounCherbourg is a proper noun referring to a fortified port city in Normandy, France. In English usage it designates the town itself or the surrounding region, and may appear in historical, maritime, or travel contexts. The French pronunciation is most common in French and in formal usage, while English variants occur in literature and media references.
- You might over-emphasize the first syllable Cher-, making it sound like 'chair' instead of 'sh-air'. Aim for a lighter start with /ʃ/ and a short /ə/ before the stressed second syllable. - The final -bourg often trips you up: don’t force a hard English 'g'; allow a soft, blended release as /dʒ/ or /g/ depending on the speaker. Practice with a French-inspired ending, not a pure /g/. - The middle vowel can drift: ensure you move from /ər/ or /eə/ to the final consonant without a break; connect syllables smoothly using a tiny, quick schwa before the final sound. Practice with recordings.
"We vacationed in Cherbourg to catch the ferry to the Île de Jersey."
"The maritime museum in Cherbourg offers insights into naval history."
"She studied WW2 logistics, with a focus on Cherbourg’s port."
In IPA, US: /ʃərˈbɜːrdʒ/; UK: /ˈʃɛə.bəːg/ (approx.); AU: /ˈʃeəˌbəːg/. Break it into two syllables with the stress on the second: cher-BOURG (roughly). Start with the ‘sh’ /ʃ/ sound, then ‘er’ as a rhotacized schwa, then the French -bourg ending where /ɜːrdʒ/ or /bəːg/ approximates the soft g. Listen to native French or tutorials for the final -bourg consonant blend. Audio reference can be found on Forvo and Pronounce.
Common errors: misplacing stress (treating Cher as stressed); pronouncing -bourg with a hard ‘g’ instead of a soft /ʒ/ or /dʒ/ approximation; dropping the French-influenced vowel quality in -bourg; and failing to connect the syllables smoothly. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable (BOURG), keep /ʃ/ at start, use a compact but clear /ɜːr/ or /ə/ in the middle, and end with a soft voiced /dʒ/ or /g/ depending on accent. Practice with minimal pairs and listen to native pronunciation.
US tends to anglicize with /ʃərˈbɜːrdʒ/ and a more pronounced rhotic /r/. UK variants may simplify to /ˈʃɛə-bɔːɡ/ approximate, with less rhotic emphasis. Australian often neutralizes some vowel distinctions, giving /ˈʃeə.bəːɡ/ with a flatter intonation. The French-influenced final -bourg remains tricky; natives render it closer to /buʁ/ in French, but English-speakers adapt to /bɜːrdʒ/ or /bəːg/. Refer to audio guides for cross-dialect perception.
The difficulty comes from the French-derived -bourg ending, which in English often becomes a voiced affricate or approximant; the sequence /ʃ/ + /ə/ or /ɛə/ + /rb/ or /rbɜː/ can mislead you. The consonant cluster at the end is unusual for English speakers, and the subtle French vowel qualities inside -- especially the mid vowels and the vowel length in stressed syllables -- add challenge. Focus on the two-syllable rhythm and a soft, blended final sound.
Cherbourg’s -bourg is best thought of as a single syllable ending: ‘bourg’ with a soft, almost French-like /bɔʁ/ influence, but English speakers commonly approximate it as /bɜːrdʒ/ or /bəːg/. Keep the transition from the middle vowel to the final consonant smooth; practice by saying "cher" quickly into “bourg” with a light, quick /dʒ/ or /g/ release.
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- US: lean into rhotic /r/ and the central vowel quality; keep /ɜːr/ or /ər/ depending on your dialect. - UK: less rhoticity, more vowel rounding in the middle vowels; the ending may lean toward /ɡ/ or /dʒ/ depending on speaker. - AU: flatter intonation, similar to US but with less pronounced rhotics; ensure you do not over-articulate the -bourg; keep it quick and light. Use IPA as a reference.
Cherbourg originates from Old Norse and Norman toponymy, reflecting its Viking-era harbor function. The element -burg derives from Old High Germanic or Old Norse berg, meaning fortress, hill, or enclosure. The initial Cher- likely stems from Gaulish or Norse alternatives referring to a harbor or river mouth, though the precise linguistic layering is debated. The city’s modern name emerged through medieval Latin and Norman French, consolidating in the 12th-14th centuries as Cherburg or Cherbourg, later standardized as Cherbourg-en-Cargais in the 20th century and simply Cherbourg. The port’s strategic value across centuries—medieval trade, Napoleonic fortifications, coastal defense—helped entrench the toponym in both local and international usage. The first documented references appear in Carolingian-era charts and 11th- to 13th-century charter records, with the contemporary spelling stabilized by the early 19th century due to administrative standardization and French orthographic reforms. The name’s endurance reflects its maritime heritage and regional identity within Normandy, France.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cherbourg" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Cherbourg" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Cherbourg"
-rge sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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