How to pronounce Charleston
Say it like CHARL-stun. Charleston has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHARL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Charleston. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- CHARL
- stun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Charleston pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHARLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- stunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Charleston
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: CHAHL-stun.
What does Charleston mean?
- state capital of West Virginia in the central part of the state on the Kanawha river
- a port city in southeastern South Carolina
- an American ballroom dance in syncopated rhythm; popular early in the 20th century
- dance the Charleston
Questions about saying Charleston
How do you pronounce Charleston?
Say CHARL-stun. The American pronunciation is /ˈtʃɑrlstən/. In British English it is /ˈtʃɑːlstən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Charleston?
Charleston has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHARL). Broken into parts: CHARL · stun.
Is Charleston 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 /ˈtʃɑːlstən/ (CHAHL-stun).