3 syllables: Su, bur, ban. Stress on bur.
suh-BUR-buhn
/səˈbɝbən/
Suburban is pronounced suh-BUR-buhn (/səˈbɝbən/). It has three syllables (Su-bur-ban), with the stress on "bur". Suburban is an adjective describing areas on the outskirts of a city, typically residential and less densely populated than urban cores. It conveys a sense of being connected to, yet outside, a central metropolis, often implying a distinct lifestyle and local culture. The term emphasizes proximity to city amenities while maintaining a more residential, quieter environment.
adjectiveSuburban is an adjective describing areas on the outskirts of a city, typically residential and less densely populated than urban cores. It conveys a sense of being connected to, yet outside, a central metropolis, often implying a distinct lifestyle and local culture. The term emphasizes proximity to city amenities while maintaining a more residential, quieter environment.
How to Pronounce Suburban
"She chose a suburban neighborhood for its spacious yards and good schools."
"The plan aims to reduce traffic in the suburban rings by improving public transit."
"Suburban life often blends commuter routines with weekend community events."
Suburban is pronounced /səˈbɜːrbən/ in US and UK English. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: suh-BUR-bun. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a stressed central vowel /ɜː/ as in 'bird' for the second syllable, then a soft /ən/ ending. In Australian accents you’ll hear a similar pattern, often with a slightly more open /ɜː/ or an /ə/ in the final syllable depending on speaker. Audio reference: listen for the stressed /ɜːr/ cluster in the second syllable and the non-stressed first syllable before it.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress on the first syllable (SUB-urban) and pronouncing the second syllable as /bəːr/ instead of /ˈɜːr/. Some speakers also overpronounce the final /ən/ making it /ən/ too heavy. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable with /ɜːr/ and reducing the final /ən/ to a quick, soft schwa+n. Practice: /səˈbɜːrbən/ with a light closure for the /b/ and an unstressed ending.
US and UK share /səˈbɜːrbən/ with rhotic /r/ in most American speech; the /ɜː/ vowel is longer and r-colored in many US accents. UK tends to be non-rhotic in some varieties; you may hear /səˈbɜːbə(ŋ)/ with a shorter /ɜː/ and reduced final syllable. Australian English typically maintains /ɜː/ but with slightly flatter intonation and a darker /ɜː/ vowel. Overall, stress placement remains on the second syllable, but rhoticity and vowel length vary by region.
Key challenges are the /ˈbɜːr/ cluster and the /ər/ in the second syllable. The /ɜː/ vowel requires a mid-back tongue position with lip rounding; the /r/ coloring adds complexity in rhotic accents. The final /ən/ can reduce to a quick schwa+n, which many learners over-emphasize. Focus on a crisp /b/ release, smooth /ɜːr/ transition, and a light, quick /ən/ ending to sound natural across dialects.
In careful speech, you’ll maintain a clear /s/ onset, a short /ə/ in the first syllable, then a prominent /ˈbɜːr/ in the stressed syllable. The final /ən/ should be lightly reduced, not fully pronounced as /ən/. For connected speech, you can blend the // into a quick /ə/ and avoid an exaggerated /r/ if your dialect is non-rhotic. Remember the key is the mid-central /ɜː/ with a subtle rhotic color.
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Suburban originates from Latin suburbānus, formed from sub- (under, near) + urbānus (of the city). The Latin root urbs/urbis meant city, town. In later Latin, suburbanus described something relating to the city’s outskirts; during the Middle Ages, the term evolved in Romance languages to describe the area on the edge of a city, often with agricultural associations. In English, suburban appeared in the 16th–17th centuries but gained prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries with urban expansion and railway-driven commuter lifestyles. The modern sense emphasizes residential outskirts with a distinct social and geographic sphere adjacent to a central metropolis, contrasting with both urban cores and rural peripheries. First known uses appear in descriptive real estate and sociological writings as cities expanded beyond walls, gradually standardizing into the common adjective we use today to describe outer-city residential zones.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Suburban" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Suburban" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Suburban"
-ban sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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