2 syllables: Sur, vey. Stress on vey.
sur-VAY
/sɚˈveɪ/
Survey is pronounced sur-VAY (/sɚˈveɪ/). It has two syllables (Sur-vey), with the stress on "vey". Survey (noun) refers to a systematic collection of information from a sample of individuals, or the act of examining something in a detailed way. It denotes an organized method for gathering data, opinions, or measurements, often for analysis or decision-making. In everyday use, it also means to look over or inspect broadly, but the noun form emphasizes formal inquiry or assessment.
nounSurvey (noun) refers to a systematic collection of information from a sample of individuals, or the act of examining something in a detailed way. It denotes an organized method for gathering data, opinions, or measurements, often for analysis or decision-making. In everyday use, it also means to look over or inspect broadly, but the noun form emphasizes formal inquiry or assessment.
"The university released the survey results after analyzing responses from thousands of students."
"A weather survey showed that most residents preferred to stay indoors during the storm."
"We conducted a quick survey of the neighborhood to gauge support for the project."
Say SUR-vey with two syllables. The first syllable uses the stressed /ɜː/ (as in 'sir') followed by an /ər/ or /ɜːr/ sound, and the second syllable ends with the diphthong /eɪ/ as in 'say.' IPA: US /ˈsɜːrˌveɪ/, UK/AU /ˈsɜːveɪ/. Keep the /r/ light or non-rhotic depending on accent; in rhotic varieties you’ll hear a subtle /ɹ/ linking into the second syllable. Audio reference: try listening to Pronounce or Forvo logo sample.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the second syllable by reducing /veɪ/ to /vi/ or /ve/; (2) Moving the first syllable toward /səˈver/ or dropping the /r/ in non-rhotic accents, effectively misplacing stress. Correction: keep /ˈsɜːr/ with clear r-coloring if rhotic; ensure /veɪ/ starts with a clean /v/ and ends with /eɪ/. Practise with minimal pairs like SUR-vey vs sir-vey and record yourself to confirm proper diphthong onset and glide.
In US English, the first syllable has rhotic /ɹ/ coloring, often realized as /ˈsɜːɹ/. In many UK accents, /ɜː/ is maintained with weaker rhotic coloring and a crisper /r/ in some areas; the second syllable /veɪ/ stays the same. Australian pronunciations mirror US rhoticity but may exhibit slightly flatter vowels and faster overall tempo. Across all, the primary difference is rhoticity and the degree of r-coloring in the first syllable.
The difficulty lies in the vowel quality of /ɜː/ in the first syllable and the diphthong /eɪ/ in the second. Speakers may misplace the jaw or mouth position, leading to a vowel merge with /sɜː/ or mispronouncing /ˈsɜːr/. The postvocalic /ɹ/ coloring in rhotic accents also adds complexity: glide and length must be balanced so the first syllable doesn’t bleed into the second.
The word features a stressed first syllable with a prominent /ɜː/ long vowel and a sharp onset /v/ in the second syllable, ending with the mid-to-high rising diphthong /eɪ/. The /r/ can be strongly colored in rhotic dialects or minimized in non-rhotic speech. The two-syllable rhythm and clear partition between /ˈsɜːr/ and /veɪ/ is key for natural-sounding pronunciation.
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- US: pronounce /ˈsɜːɹ/ with full rhoticity; the /ɜː/ should feel like the hall vowel in 'bird', then release into /veɪ/. - UK: maintain /ˈsɜːvə/ with a crisper /v/ and potentially weaker rhotic coloring; keep /eɪ/ clearly differentiated from /ə/. - AU: similar to US rhotic patterns, but vowels can be more centralized; keep /ˈsɜː.veɪ/ with a relaxed jaw. IPA guidance helps keep distinctions intact across dialects.
Survey comes from Old French surverer, from Latin super- “over” + videre “to see.” The French term surveer in the sense of “to oversee” evolved into surveoir and then surveir, eventually entering English in the 14th–15th centuries as survey. In Middle English usage, survey often meant “to inspect” or “to oversee.” By the 16th century, survey acquired its modern connotations: a careful, organized examination or measurement of a population or landscape, and later the verb form to examine or to measure. The word’s semantic path reflects a shift from directive oversight to systematic data collection and assessment. Today, survey is a core term in research, market analysis, governance, and planning, retaining the sense of comprehensive viewing and measurement. First known use in English is attested in the 14th–15th centuries, aligning with its Proto-French and Latin roots centered on overseeing or surveying land and information. The evolution mirrors broader shifts in governance and statistics, where formal inquiries became standardized practices in social science and administration.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Survey" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Survey" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Survey"
-rry sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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