ven-TUUR-ee
/vɛˈntʊɹi/
venturi is pronounced ven-TUUR-ee (/vɛˈntʊɹi/). Venturi is a term used in fluid dynamics and engineering to describe a converging–diverging nozzle that accelerates a fluid to a higher velocity while reducing its pressure. In practice, it’s often referenced in carburetors, jet engines, and aspirators. The word denotes the same device in multiple languages and disciplines, and it’s sometimes extended metaphorically to describe any constricted pathway that changes flow characteristics.
Venturi is a term used in fluid dynamics and engineering to describe a converging–diverging nozzle that accelerates a fluid to a higher velocity while reducing its pressure. In practice, it’s often referenced in carburetors, jet engines, and aspirators. The word denotes the same device in multiple languages and disciplines, and it’s sometimes extended metaphorically to describe any constricted pathway that changes flow characteristics.
"The airspeed through the venturi increases as the nozzle narrows, creating a pressure drop."
"Researchers used a venturi to draw a sample of gas into the detector without disturbing the main flow."
"A venturi meter measures flow rate by comparing pressure differences across the constricted section."
Pronounce it ven-TOO-ree with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US: ˌvenˈtuːri, UK: ˌvenˈtjuːri, AU: ˌvenˈtjuːri. Start with ven as in vent, then a stressed TU sound like 'too' and finish with 'ree' as in 'ree'.
Common errors: stressing the first syllable instead of the second, pronouncing the 'tu' as a short 'tuh' rather than a clear long 'oo' vowel, and mispronouncing the final 'ri' as 'ree' with a long quality. Correct by giving the second syllable a strong length and rounding the lips for the 'oo' sound before the 'ri'.
In US, the 'tu' tends toward a long 'oo' /uː/ with non-rhotic-ish r. In UK, the 'tu' is /tjuː/ or /tuː/ with clearer 'j' offglide; final 'ri' often reduced slightly. In Australian, the vowel in 'tu' is similar to US but with a flatter, broader diphthong and a more clipped final syllable. IPA references align with ˌvenˈtuːri (US), ˌvenˈtjuːri (UK/AU).
The difficulty comes from the two consecutive vowels in 'tu' forming a tense, long vowel sound and the later 'ri' that demands a clean, rolling or clipped 'r' depending on accent. The sequence ven- and -turi requires precise timing and lip shaping to avoid splitt ing the syllables. Practicing the diphthong in the middle and the final 'ri' with a trimmed or flapped r helps naturalize the word across contexts.
A unique factor is the stressed second syllable 'TU', where many speakers elongate the vowel and lightly release into the following 'ri'. The cluster -turi can be misheard as 'tury' by non-native speakers. Focus on a crisp 'tu' with a long /uː/ and a clear terminal /ri/; ensure the 't' is unreleased and the 'r' is light and not overly rolled.
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US: rhoticity is moderate; ensure r-coloring is present but not overpowering. UK: sharper vowel for 'tu' and a slightly non-rhotic tendency, though in technical terms most speakers pronounce r-light. AU: tends toward longer diphthong in 'tu' and crisp final 'ri'. Use IPA: US ˌvenˈtuːri, UK ˌvenˈtjuːri, AU ˌvenˈtjuːri.
Venturi derives from Italian, named after Giovanni Battista Venturi (1746–1823), a prominent Italian physicist who studied fluid behavior in constricted passages. The term entered scientific discourse through his work on how speeds and pressures change in variable-area ducts. The root is venturi, Latinized from ventus (wind) via Italian vern- or venturo, reflecting dynamic movement. Early 19th-century experiments demonstrated that as a fluid’s cross-sectional area decreases, its velocity increases and static pressure falls, a principle later formalized in Bernoulli’s equation. In engineering practice, Venturi tubes were designed to exploit this effect for measuring flow rates and for mixing or metering fluids. Today, venturi concepts are foundational in fluid dynamics, carburetors, aerosol samplers, and medical inhalers, with the term remaining associated with the distinctive converging–diverging geometry that creates a velocity peak in the throat.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "venturi" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "venturi" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "venturi"
-ury sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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