3 syllables: lux, em, bourg. Stress on lux.
LUHK-suhm-bawrg
/ˈlʌksəˌmbɔɹɡ/
luxembourg is pronounced LUHK-suhm-bawrg (/ˈlʌksəˌmbɔɹɡ/). It has three syllables (lux-em-bourg), with the stress on "lux". Luxembourg (often capitalized Luxembourg in English) is a small, multilingual European country, known for its fortified history and banking prominence. The term also names the country’s capital city. In general use, it refers to the nation or, less formally, to things associated with Luxembourg. The pronunciation often reflects Dutch, French, and German influences due to its linguistic diversity.
Luxembourg (often capitalized Luxembourg in English) is a small, multilingual European country, known for its fortified history and banking prominence. The term also names the country’s capital city. In general use, it refers to the nation or, less formally, to things associated with Luxembourg. The pronunciation often reflects Dutch, French, and German influences due to its linguistic diversity.
"She studied Luxembourg’s political system during her European studies."
"The Luxembourg skyline glowed as trains rolled through the station."
"He gave a presentation on Luxembourg’s economy and cultural heritage."
Pronounce it as lúx-eu-bourg with three syllables: US/UK/AU IPA: /ˈlʌk.zəm.bɔːr/ in broad terms, though Americans often say /ˈluksəmbɔr/ in rapid speech. The first syllable carries primary stress. Start with a dark, clipped 'lu' /lʌ/ or /lʊ/ depending on your accent, then a schwa-like /ə/ in the second, and end with /bɔːr/ (American, non-rhotic). For naturalness, keep the final r lightly pronounced in non-rhotic dialects, or r-colored in rhotic ones. Listening to a native speaker can help anchor the final /ɔːr/ or /ɔː/. Audio reference: try Cambridge dictionary and Forvo recordings.
Two frequent pitfalls: (1) Overemphasizing the middle syllable /zəm/ or mispronouncing it as /zɛm/; keep the middle relaxed with a schwa-like /ə/. (2) Treating the final /bourg/ as /burg/ by anglicizing; in French/German-influenced pronunciation, final sound is more like /bɔʁ/ (rhotic) or /bɔː/ (non-rhotic) with a back rounded vowel. Correct by softening the middle to /zə/ and rounding the lips for the final /ɔʁ/. Listening to native Luxembourgish or French-influenced pronunciations helps.
US tends to produce /ˈlʌk.zəmbɔɚ/ or /ˈlʌk.zəm.bɔːr/, with rhotic r and a schwa in the middle. UK and other non-rhotic varieties often drop the r or reduce it to a non-rhotic vowel, yielding /ˈlʌk.zəm.bɔː/ or /ˈlʊk.zəm.bɔː/. Australian English resembles non-rhotic UK patterns but may be less vowel crisp, with /ˈlʌk.zəmbɔː/ or /ˈlʌk.səm.bɔː/. Always check local forvo/dictionary entries for precise regional variants.
Difficulties arise from a three-syllable structure with a mid- syllabic schwa and a final rounded vowel plus a consonant cluster. The letter sequence 'x' can be /k/ or /gz/ in different languages, and the final 'bourg' resembles French pronunciation where 'r' can be silent or uvular. The combination of accented syllables and cross-language phonemes makes accurate rendering challenging for non-native speakers. Practice focusing on the middle /zə/ and the final /bɔː/ or /ɔʁ/ depending on the dialect.
Luxembourg’s final syllable can be tricky because 'bourg' follows a word-ending pattern similar to French. In many English adaptations, it’s approximated as /bɔːr/ or /bɔʁ/ with the final consonant softened or rolled depending on the dialect. The key is to treat 'bourg' as a distinct syllable with rounded lips and a back-vowel /ɔ/; avoid turning it into a hard /g/ or /ɡ/ sound. Listening to native sources helps anchor this exact mouth shape and final rhoticity.
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- US: rhotic, final /r/ pronounced; vowels tend to be lax. Maintain /ˈlʌk.zəm.bɔɹ/ with buoyant middle /ə/. - UK: non-rhotic; final /ɔː/ and silent or weakly pronounced /r/; middle /ə/ remains; keep stress on first syllable. - AU: similar to UK but with slight vowel flattening; final /ɹ/ may be weaker; aim for /ˈlʌk.zəmbɔː/ with a long /ɔː/. - IPA references: use /ˈlʌk.zəm.bɔːr/ (US, rhotic), /ˈlʌk.zəm.bɔː/ (UK non-rhotic), /ˈlʌk.zəmbɔː/ (AU). - Tips: keep the middle vowel relaxed; round the lips for /ɔː/; practice linking the final syllable to the preceding one for smoother rhythm.
Luxembourg derives from the Latinized form Lucilinburhuc, meaning “little fortress,” a reference to the site’s ancient fortifications atop a rock ledge overlooking the Alzette and Petrusse valleys. The modern name evolved from Dutch/Flemish influences and Germanic linguistic shifts. The fortification, originally called Lucilinburhuc (the small fortress), was established around the 9th century by Sigefrid, a Frankish noble. By the 10th–11th centuries, the site became associated with the Counts and later the Dukes of Luxembourg, who expanded the crest and town. French influence grew in administration and law, while the local language area adopted a mix of Luxembourgish, French, and German forms. Luxembourg City’s status as capital was solidified in the 19th century, and the country’s identity as a Grand Duchy persisted until 1867 when its sovereignty was affirmed, though it kept a constitutional framework. Today, the name Luxembourg designates both the nation and its capital, reflecting a layered linguistic history shaped by cross-border European dynamics.
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Words that rhyme with "luxembourg"
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