How to pronounce Dunkirk
Say it like DUHN-kerk. Dunkirk has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DUHN).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Dunkirk. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈdʌnkɚk/DUHN-kerk
UK British/ˈdʌnkək/DUHN-kuk
- DUHN
- kerk
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dunkirk pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- kerkKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of Dunkirk
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: DUHN-kuk.
What does Dunkirk mean?
noun
- a crisis in which a desperate effort is the only alternative to defeat“the Russians had to pull off a Dunkirk to get out of there”
- a seaport in northern France on the North Sea; scene of the evacuation of British forces in 1940 during World War II
- an amphibious evacuation in World War II (1940) when 330,000 Allied troops had to be evacuated from the beaches in northern France in a desperate retreat under enemy fire
Questions about saying Dunkirk
How do you pronounce Dunkirk?
Say DUHN-kerk. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʌnkɚk/. In British English it is /ˈdʌnkək/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Dunkirk?
Dunkirk has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DUHN). Broken into parts: DUHN · kerk.
Is Dunkirk 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 /ˈdʌnkək/ (DUHN-kuk).