How to pronounce Berkeley
Say it like BUR-klee. Berkeley has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUR).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Berkeley. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈbɝkli/BUR-klee
UK British/ˈbɜːkli/BUR-klee
- BUR
- klee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Berkeley pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- kleeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of Berkeley
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BUR-klee.
What does Berkeley mean?
noun
- Irish philosopher and Anglican bishop who opposed the materialism of Thomas Hobbes (1685-1753)
- a city in California on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay; site of the University of California at Berkeley
Questions about saying Berkeley
How do you pronounce Berkeley?
Say BUR-klee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɝkli/. In British English it is /ˈbɜːkli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Berkeley?
Berkeley has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUR). Broken into parts: BUR · klee.
Is Berkeley pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbɜːkli/ (BUR-klee).