3 syllables: Van, cou, ver. Stress on cou.
van-KOO-vur
/væˈnkuvɚ/
Vancouver is pronounced van-KOO-vur (/væˈnkuvɚ/). It has three syllables (Van-cou-ver), with the stress on "cou". Vancouver is a proper noun referring to a major city in British Columbia, Canada. It is pronounced with three syllables and stress on the first syllable, and typically used as a place name in formal and casual contexts. The term evokes the city’s coastal location and multicultural character in North America.
nounVancouver is a proper noun referring to a major city in British Columbia, Canada. It is pronounced with three syllables and stress on the first syllable, and typically used as a place name in formal and casual contexts. The term evokes the city’s coastal location and multicultural character in North America.
Tip: record yourself, compare with a native speaker, and slow down at first to ensure precise syllable boundaries.
"I’m flying to Vancouver next month for a conference."
"Vancouver’s waterfront parks are stunning in the summer."
"We benchmarked our project against Vancouver’s transit system."
Pronounce as /ˈvæn.kə.vər/ (US) or /vənˈkæn.vər/ (UK). Primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a bright, short /æ/ in the first vowel, then a schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable, ending with /ər/ rhotacized in many accents. Think: VAN-kuh-vuhr, with the final syllable lightly voiced.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying vaN-CO-vər), over-articulating the middle vowel as /a/ rather than a reduced /ə/ or /ɪ/ as in /kə/. Another mistake is pronouncing the final /ər/ as /ar/ or dropping the final syllable entirely. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use a short /ə/ for the second vowel, and finish with a light rhotacized /ər/ if your dialect allows.
US tends to strong first syllable /ˈvæn/ with a schwa second syllable /kə/ and rhotacized final /vər/. UK often features a less rhotic ending and can have a slightly reduced second syllable, e.g., /vəˈkæn.vər/. Australian tends toward /ˈvæŋ.kə.və/ or /vəˈkænvə/ with vocally centralized vowels and a softer /r/ in non-rhotic accents. The main contrasts are vowel quality and rhoticity.
The difficulty lies in the rapid transition from a stressed syllable /ˈvæn/ or /və/ to a reduced second syllable /kə/ and a final rhotic /vər/ or non-rhotic equivalent. Non-native speakers may mispronounce the initial diphthong or introduce an intrusive /w/ or /v/ into the middle syllable. Focus on maintaining three clear syllables with the right syllabic reduction while preserving the alveolar /n/ cluster.
The key is to emphasize the three-syllable structure with primary stress on the first syllable and a clear, reduced middle vowel leading to a final rhotic or non-rhotic ending, depending on dialect. For SEO, provide both /ˈvæn.kə.vər/ (US) and /vəˈkæn.və/ (UK/AU) variants. Clear IPA, common spellings, and phoneme breakdown help search engines capture pronunciation queries.
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Vancouver derives from the explorer George Vancouver, whose surname names the city founded in 1886 and incorporated in 1886. The name Vancouver itself originates from Dutch or Flemish roots associated with exploration and maritime culture (though George Vancouver was English). The city’s naming reflects colonial-era naming practices honoring navigators and patrons. Over time, the word Vancouver has broadened in use from the surname to a multinational place-name associated with Canada’s west coast metropolis. The first known use as a municipal name dates to the late 19th century when settlement and railways spurred rapid growth, culminating in formal incorporation. In modern usage, Vancouver denotes both the city and, informally, the broader metro region, carrying connotations of coastal scenery, policy, and urban vitality.
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Help others use "Vancouver" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Vancouver" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Vancouver" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Vancouver"
-ker sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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