3 syllables: cook, er, y. Stress on cook.
KUUK-uh-ree
/ˈkʊ.kə.ɹi/
cookery is pronounced KUUK-uh-ree (/ˈkʊ.kə.ɹi/). It has three syllables (cook-er-y), with the stress on "cook". Cookery refers to the activity or practice of cooking, or the kitchen skills and culinary arts of preparing food. It denotes the craft of making meals, often in a domestic or professional setting, and is frequently used to describe the methods, recipes, and equipment involved in cooking. The term emphasizes technique, practice, and culinary knowledge more than the act of eating.
Cookery refers to the activity or practice of cooking, or the kitchen skills and culinary arts of preparing food. It denotes the craft of making meals, often in a domestic or professional setting, and is frequently used to describe the methods, recipes, and equipment involved in cooking. The term emphasizes technique, practice, and culinary knowledge more than the act of eating.
- You may compress the word into two syllables, saying /ˈkʊk.ri/; fix by anchoring three syllables and inserting a clear /ə/ in the middle. - Over-pronouncing the middle vowel as a full 'ee' sound (/iː/) or as /eɪ/; keep it as a short schwa /ə/. Practice: say 'cook-uh-ree' repeatedly. - Misplacing the primary stress or softening consonants; keep /k/ sounds crisp at the start and /r/ clearly released in the final syllable. Approach with deliberate rhythm, not haste.
"She took a course in cookery to improve her dinner parties."
"The cookery class focused on French sauces and precise knife skills."
"In this cookbook, the recipes are accompanied by detailed cookery techniques."
Cookery is pronounced with three syllables: /ˈkʊk.ə.ri/. The primary stress is on the first syllable. The first vowel is a short, near-back /ʊ/ as in 'book.' The middle is a schwa /ə/, and the final is /ri/ with a light 'ee' sound. Practice by saying 'BOOK-uh-ree' quickly, then blend: /ˈkʊk.ə.ri/.
Common errors include blending too tightly so it sounds like one syllable (coo-kree), or over-pronouncing the middle vowel as a full 'ee' sound. Another frequent slip is misplacing the stress, saying /ˈkoʊ.kɜ.ri/ or /ˈkuː.kə.ri/. Correct by maintaining three distinct syllables with a short /ʊ/ in the first, a schwa in the middle, and a clear /ri/ at the end. Think: 'BOOK-uh-ree' with even rhythm.
In US English, the first syllable often has /ʊ/ as in 'book,' with a more rhotic final /ri/: /ˈkʊk.ə.ɹi/. UK English maintains /ˈkʊk.ə.ɹi/ as well but can have crisper consonants and less rhoticity depending on region; the final /ri/ tends to be syllabic but clearly pronounced. Australian English follows similar patterns to UK/US but with slightly more centralized vowels; keep the /ʊ/ and the final /ri/ crisp while the middle /ə/ remains a weak vowel.
The challenge lies in the three-syllable structure and the subtle vowel sequence /ʊ-ə-ɹi/. The middle /ə/ is a weak vowel that can be swallowed, making the word sound like two syllables. Also, the final /ri/ requires a clear, unstressed /ɹi/ without turning into 'ree' or 'rih.' Practicing the middle schwa and ensuring even syllable timing helps maintain natural rhythm.
A distinctive feature is the non-diphthongized final 'ry' sound /ri/, not /riː/ as in 'cheery.' Ensure the tongue tips up toward the alveolar ridge for a clean /r/ followed by a short /i/. The final syllable should be light and quick, which helps avoid an extra emphasis that can distort the word into longer duration.
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- US: emphasize rhoticity with a slightly stronger /ɹ/ and a shorter final vowel; ensure /ʊ/ remains compact. - UK: crisper consonants and a slightly less rhotic final; maintain the three-syllable flow with /ə/ as a diminutive middle vowel. IPA: /ˈkʊk.ə.ɹi/. - AU: similar to UK/US patterns but with a flapped or tapped /ɹ/ in some speakers; keep the /ʊ/ and /ə/ unchanged, final /ri/ clean and fast. - General: keep a steady tempo, avoid running two syllables together, and maintain a light middle vowel.
Cookery comes from the Old English word coc, meaning 'cook' or 'cook's craft,' with the suffix -ere denoting an activity or occupation, akin to 'smithery' or 'brewing.' The form evolved through Middle English as cocurie/cokery, influenced by the French term cuisine and the Latin coculus (cook) via culinary discourse. It first appeared in English texts in the late medieval period, aligning with the rise of skilled domestic crafts and guild-like instruction in households and taverns. Over centuries, cookery expanded from simple kitchen practices to formal culinary technique and professional gastronomy. In Modern English, cookery retains a slightly antiquated or British flavor, often used in contrast to the broader term cooking, with some regional preference for 'cookery' in UK English and 'cooking' more common in American usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "cookery" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "cookery"
-ery sounds
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