Peru

Pronounce as PER-oo, with the primary stress on the first syllable. In IPA for US: /ˈpɛɹuː/ (approx. two syllables). In many UK speakers, it sounds like /ˈpeɹuː/. For Australian, you may hear /ˈpiːɹuː/ or /ˈpeɹuː/. The key is a crisp initial /p/ release, a short but clear /ɛ/ or /e/ vowel, and a light, rounded final /uː/. Mouth: lips spread to rounded for the /uː/, tongue at mid-high position, not a slanted vowel; avoid turning it into /iː/ or /ɒ/.”,

Common errors include reducing the second syllable to a schwa or a faint /ə/; making the first vowel too open or too close (saying /pɛɹə/ or /piɹu/); and misplacing the stress by saying PER-u with a weak second syllable. Correction tips: keep the first syllable stressed and crisp: /ˈpɛɹuː/. Practice with a held /uː/ at the end, ensure the final is not reduced, and keep the /ɹ/ sound clear but not rolled. Use minimal pairs like 'peru' vs 'perun' (not a word) for focus on the vowel height. Bunch mouth position for a light, compact burst on /p/ and a rounded, steady /uː/ at the end.”,

In US English, /ˈpɛɹuː/ with rhotic /ɹ/ and a mid-front vowel /ɛ/. UK English often renders the first vowel as /e/, giving /ˈpeɹuː/ with a non-rhotic or lightly rhotic /ɹ/ depending on speaker. Australian tends to have a longer /uː/ and a slightly closer vowel, sometimes /ˈpiːɹuː/ depending on the speaker, with a more centralized /ɹ/ or tapped /ɹ/ in rapid speech. Across all, the final vowel is a clear /uː/; the main variation is the first vowel and rhoticity. Listen to native Peruvian speakers for a close reference, but remember that all three prosody patterns maintain two syllables and initial stress.”,

Difficulties arise from two main factors: the short, tense first vowel that can drift toward /e/ or /ɛ/ in some dialects, and the final /uː/ that can drift toward /u/ or be reduced in rapid speech. Maintaining two clear syllables with primary stress on the first can be tricky for speakers not accustomed to two-syllable proper nouns with an open, rounded ending. A focused practice of the mouth shapes for /p/ and /uː/, and keeping the /ɹ/ sound distinct, helps prevent common conflations with words like 'pear' or 'pro.'

A country name can be susceptible to regional variations in vowel quality, but the expectation remains two syllables with initial stress: /ˈpɛɹuː/. Some speakers, especially in rapid speech, might reduce to /ˈpeɹu/ or /ˈpæɹuː/ if not careful. The best practice is to maintain a clean closed syllable on the first vowel and a strong, rounded end with /uː/. Also, be mindful that in a sentence, Peru’s name will often carry semantic weight—e.g., 'Peru exports coffee'—so keeping the rhythm steady is important for overall intelligibility.