How to pronounce Vancouver
Say it like van-KOO-ver. Vancouver has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Vancouver. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- van
- KOO
- ver
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Vancouver pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- vanKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- KOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- verKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of Vancouver
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: van-KOO-vuh.
What does Vancouver mean?
- A seaport, the largest city in British Columbia, Canada.
- A large island of British Columbia, Canada.
- A river in southern British Columbia, Canada.
Where does Vancouver come from?
The family name is from the Dutch place name Coevorden (“the place where cows ford the river”) via the Dutch family name van Coevorden (“a person from Coevorden”).
Words that rhyme with Vancouver
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Vancouver.
Questions about saying Vancouver
How do you pronounce Vancouver?
Say van-KOO-ver. The American pronunciation is /vænˈkuvɚ/. In British English it is /vænˈkuːvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Vancouver?
Vancouver has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOO). Broken into parts: van · KOO · ver.
Is Vancouver 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 /vænˈkuːvə/ (van-KOO-vuh).