3 syllables: Cran, ber, ry. Stress on Cran.
KRAN-ber-ee
/ˈkɹæˌnbɛɹi/
Cranberry is pronounced KRAN-ber-ee (/ˈkɹæˌnbɛɹi/). It has three syllables (Cran-ber-ry), with the stress on "Cran". Cranberry is a small, tart, red berry native to North America, often used in juices, sauces, or dried snacks. As a noun, it refers to the fruit itself or products from it. The term also appears in regional foods and flavorings. It carries a crisp, bright sound when spoken.
nounCranberry is a small, tart, red berry native to North America, often used in juices, sauces, or dried snacks. As a noun, it refers to the fruit itself or products from it. The term also appears in regional foods and flavorings. It carries a crisp, bright sound when spoken.
"We added cranberry sauce to the roast."
"Cranberry juice is a popular morning refresher."
"She wore a cranberry-colored sweater to the party."
You say /ˈkrænˌbɛri/ in US English, with primary stress on 'cran-' and secondary on '-ber-'. The mouth starts with a low, open jaw for /æ/ in 'cran', then a tense /ɛ/ in 'ber', and ends with /i/ as in 'ee'. For UK listeners, it’s /ˈkrænˌbəri/ with a more reduced final vowel. Audio reference: use native speaker clips on Pronounce or Forvo for authentic variation.
Two common mistakes are misplacing stress (saying /ˈkrænbəri/ with weak second syllable) and mispronouncing the final vowel (ending with /i/ instead of /iː/). Correct by keeping primary stress on the first syllable and ensuring the final /i/ is a clean, short /i/ sound. Practice with minimal pairs focusing on vowel length and stress placement.
US tends to pronounce /ˈkrænˌbɛri/ with a clear /ɛ/ in 'ber' and a sharper /i/; UK often has /ˈkrænˌbəri/ with a schwa-like ending. Australian is similar to US but may feature a lighter /ə/ in the final syllable and a less tense /æ/ in 'cran'. Overall, vowel quality and rhoticity influence the last syllable and the vowel in the middle.
The difficulty lies in the quick transition between two syllables with a diphthong-like feel in the middle and the ending /ri/ often reduced in casual speech. The cluster /ˈkræn/ requires precise tongue height for /æ/, while /bɛri/ demands a clear mid-front /ɛ/ and a distinct /ri/ release. Stress pattern also influences rhythm in connected speech.
A unique aspect is the two-syllable rhythm with a strong primary stress on the first syllable and a lighter secondary focus on the second, plus the ending /ri/ which can be realized as /ri/ or /əri/ in broader accents. The central vowel in 'ber' is a key differentiator from close red berries, and careful attention to the final /i/ sound helps clarity in fast speech.
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Cranberry erived from the combination of cran (Old English crān), referring to the crane or the craning habit of growth over bogs, and berry. The fruit is native to North America, especially boggy, acidic soils. The modern word appears in 17th-18th century sources as cranberries; the singular cranberry also appears in early American texts. The name likely reflects the cranberry’s pinkish-red color and its growth habit in low-lying wetlands where cranes might be observed. Over time, cranberry became a staple in Native American diets and later in European trade, with the fruit cultivated for juice, sauce, and dried snacks. The term now denotes the plant, the berry, and processed products, with the common pronunciation /ˈkrænˌbɛri/ in American English and /ˈkrænˌbæri/ in some British contexts, retaining the original phonetic balance of CRAN-berry.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cranberry" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Cranberry" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Cranberry"
-rry sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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