How to pronounce Johannesburg
Say it like joh-HAN-is-berg. Johannesburg has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Johannesburg. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- joh
- HAN
- is
- berg
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Johannesburg pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- johGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- HANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- isKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- bergKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of Johannesburg
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: joh-HAN-is-burrg.
What does Johannesburg mean?
- The largest city in South Africa, provincial capital of the province of Gauteng.
Where does Johannesburg come from?
Borrowed from Dutch Johannesburg.
Questions about saying Johannesburg
How do you pronounce Johannesburg?
Say joh-HAN-is-berg. The American pronunciation is /ˌdʒoʊˈhænɪsbɚɡ/. In British English it is /dʒoʊˈhænɪsbɜːrɡ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Johannesburg?
Johannesburg has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HAN). Broken into parts: joh · HAN · is · berg.
Is Johannesburg 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 /dʒoʊˈhænɪsbɜːrɡ/ (joh-HAN-is-burrg).