How to pronounce Melbourne
Say it like MEL-bern. Melbourne has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Melbourne. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MEL
- bern
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Melbourne pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- bernKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of Melbourne
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MEL-bun.
What does Melbourne mean?
- The capital city of Victoria, Australia and former capital of Australia (1901–1927).
Where does Melbourne come from?
Named after William Lamb, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and 2nd Viscount of Melbourne, Derbyshire; ultimately from Old English mylen (“mill”) + burne (“stream”).
Questions about saying Melbourne
How do you pronounce Melbourne?
Say MEL-bern. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛlbɚn/. In British English it is /ˈmɛlbən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Melbourne?
Melbourne has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEL). Broken into parts: MEL · bern.
Is Melbourne 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 /ˈmɛlbən/ (MEL-bun).