How to pronounce Canberra
Say it like kan-BER-uh. Canberra has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Canberra. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kan
- BER
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Canberra pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kanGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- BERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Canberra
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1.
British respelling: KAN-buh-ruh.
What does Canberra mean?
- The capital city of Australia; located in the Australian Capital Territory.
Where does Canberra come from?
Uncertain. Most commonly said to be from Ngunawal kamberra (“meeting place”).
Words that rhyme with Canberra
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Canberra.
Questions about saying Canberra
How do you pronounce Canberra?
Say kan-BER-uh. The American pronunciation is /ˌkænˈbɛrə/. In British English it is /ˈkænbərə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Canberra?
Canberra has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BER). Broken into parts: kan · BER · uh.
Is Canberra pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1. The British form is /ˈkænbərə/ (KAN-buh-ruh).