How to pronounce Pennsylvania
Say it like pen-sul-VAY-nyuh. Pennsylvania has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Pennsylvania. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pen
- sul
- VAY
- nyuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pennsylvania pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- penGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- sulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- nyuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Pennsylvania
American and British speakers say Pennsylvania in essentially the same way: /ˌpɛnsəlˈveɪnjə/ in the US and /ˌpɛnsɪlˈveɪnjə/ in the UK.
British respelling: pen-sil-VAY-nyuh.
What does Pennsylvania mean?
- A state of the United States. Capital: Harrisburg. Largest city: Philadelphia.
- The first, and historically largest, now defunct US railroad, a hallmark of the industrial age.
Where does Pennsylvania come from?
From Penn (“William Penn”) + sylvan (“woods”) + -ia (“land”).
Questions about saying Pennsylvania
How do you pronounce Pennsylvania?
Say pen-sul-VAY-nyuh. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɛnsəlˈveɪnjə/. In British English it is /ˌpɛnsɪlˈveɪnjə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VAY). Broken into parts: pen · sul · VAY · nyuh.
Do Americans and Brits say Pennsylvania the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌpɛnsəlˈveɪnjə/ and the British form is /ˌpɛnsɪlˈveɪnjə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.