4 syllables: Je, wel, ler, y. Stress on Je.
JOO-lur-ee
/ˈdʒuː.lɚ.i/
Jewellery is pronounced JOO-lur-ee (/ˈdʒuː.lɚ.i/). It has four syllables (Je-wel-ler-y), with the stress on "Je". Jewellery is a mass noun referring to ornaments worn for personal adornment, such as necklaces, rings, and bracelets. It denotes decorative objects crafted from precious metals or gems. The term emphasizes items worn for aesthetic appeal, often valued as fashion accessories or collectibles, rather than tools or functional items.
nounJewellery is a mass noun referring to ornaments worn for personal adornment, such as necklaces, rings, and bracelets. It denotes decorative objects crafted from precious metals or gems. The term emphasizes items worn for aesthetic appeal, often valued as fashion accessories or collectibles, rather than tools or functional items.
How to Pronounce Jewellery
"She wore elegant jewellery to the gala, pairing a silver necklace with diamond earrings."
"The jewellery box contained bracelets, rings, and a delicate pendant from her grandmother."
"In that market, you can find handmade jewellery from local artisans."
US/UK/AU: /ˈdʒuːəlri/ (JEW-uhl-ree). The primary stress falls on the first syllable. Start with the /dʒ/ sound as in 'judge', move to /uː/ (long 'oo' as in 'food'), then a light /ə/ (schwa) in the middle, followed by /l/ and an unstressed final /ri/. Tip: ensure the middle vowel is reduced (not a full 'ee'), and end with a clear /ri/ rather than a heavy /riː/.
Common errors: misplacing stress (trying to stress the second syllable), pronouncing the middle vowel as a full /iː/ instead of /ə/ (je-EL-ree), and misarticulating the final /ri/ as /riː/ or /ri/ with a hard 'r'. Corrections: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈdʒuː/ and use a quick, light /ə/ for the second syllable; finish with /lri/ approximating /əlri/ and ensure the /r/ is not overly rhotic in non-rhotic varieties.
US speakers typically say /ˈdʒuːəlri/ with a rhotic /r/; UK and AU speak similarly but with a lighter final /ri/ and potential non-rhoticity in some dialects, giving /ˈdʒuːəlri/ as well. The key differences are vowel length and rhoticity: US rhotics pronounce /r/; many British accents reduce postvocalic /r/ to a non-rhotic vowel before it; AU tends toward non-rhoticity in older generations but modern speech is increasingly rhotic with smooth /ɹ/ in final syllables.
Two main challenges: the middle /ə/ (schwa) must be reduced, not pronounced as /iː/ or /eɪ/; and maintaining a clean /l/ before the final /ri/, avoiding a heavy /riː/ or vowel confusion. Also, the initial /dʒ/ blends into /uː/ smoothly; beginners often elongate the middle vowel or stress the second syllable. Practice with slowed pace, then normal speed, focusing on the first-stressed length and a light, quick middle syllable.
A distinctive feature in 'jewellery' is the cluster /dʒuː/ followed by /əl/. The 'lj' spelling guides the /əl/ as a light, unstressed vowel combined with an /l/ before the /ri/. Some speakers may insert an extra vowel between /uː/ and /l/—avoid that by keeping /uː/ rounded but short, then immediately transitioning to /əl/ and /ri/.
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US: rhotic /r/ in final cluster; UK/AU: often non-rhotic or lighter /r/. Vowel differences: US /uː/ vs UK /uː/ similar, but UK may have slightly shorter length in rapid speech. AU follows US rhotic tendencies with a subtle influence of British vowel quality. Use IPA guidance: /ˈdʒuːəlri/; ensure your lips are rounded for /uː/ and the schwa remains central. In US, /ɹ/ is stronger; in UK, avoid postvocalic r coloring unless necessary. IPA references: /ˈdʒuːəlri/.
The word jewellery (British spelling) derives from Middle English juelere or jowlynere, from Old French joiellier, joiellier, meaning a 'jeweler' or 'jewelled thing'. The root is Latin jocale, related to calling or playing with precious stones, but the common chain links through Old French to the English term for adornments. Jewellery and its American counterpart jewelry split in spelling in the 19th century, with jewelry becoming the dominant American usage influenced by French spelling conventions. The meaning evolved from the craft of making and dealing in jewelry to the finished articles themselves. First attested in English in the 14th–15th centuries in references to precious items worn for display and status, the word captures both artisanal craft and personal ornamentation, surviving into contemporary fashion contexts while maintaining a slightly more formal British register today.
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Words that rhyme with "Jewellery"
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