How to pronounce Orkney
Say it like ORK-nee. Orkney has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ORK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Orkney. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ORK
- nee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Orkney pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ORKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- neeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of Orkney
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: AWK-nee.
What does Orkney mean?
- A historical county of Scotland, United Kingdom.
Where does Orkney come from?
From Old Norse Orkneyjar (“seal islands”), from Old Norse ørkn (“seal”) + ey (“island”).
Questions about saying Orkney
How do you pronounce Orkney?
Say ORK-nee. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔrkni/. In British English it is /ˈɔːkni/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Orkney?
Orkney has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ORK). Broken into parts: ORK · nee.
Is Orkney 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 /ˈɔːkni/ (AWK-nee).