How to pronounce Aberdeen
Say it like AB-er-deen. Aberdeen has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Aberdeen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AB
- er
- deen
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Aberdeen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ABSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- deenGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of Aberdeen
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 3.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: ab-uh-DEEN.
What does Aberdeen mean?
- A port city in Aberdeen council area, Scotland, on the North Sea.
- A town in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa.
Where does Aberdeen come from?
The area and town in Hong Kong is named after George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen.
Questions about saying Aberdeen
How do you pronounce Aberdeen?
Say AB-er-deen. The American pronunciation is /ˈæbɚˌdin/. In British English it is /ˌæbəˈdiːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Aberdeen?
Aberdeen has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AB). Broken into parts: AB · er · deen.
Is Aberdeen pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 3. The British form is /ˌæbəˈdiːn/ (ab-uh-DEEN).