How to pronounce vestry
Say it like VES-tree. Vestry has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce vestry. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VES
- tree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Vestry pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- VESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- treeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of vestry
American and British speakers say vestry in essentially the same way: /ˈvɛstri/ in the US and /ˈvɛstri/ in the UK.
British respelling: VES-tree.
What does vestry mean?
- A room in a church where the clergy put on their vestments and where these are stored; also used for meetings and classes.“The choirboys change into their cassocks in the vestry.”
- An assembly of persons (ad hoc or recurrent) who manage parochial affairs; so called because usually held in a vestry.
- A committee of parishioners elected to administer the temporal affairs of a parish.“The vestry meets on the first Tuesday of every month.”
Where does vestry come from?
From Anglo-Norman vesterie, from Old French vestiaire (“room for vestments, dressing room”), from Latin vestiarium (“wardrobe”).
Questions about saying vestry
How do you pronounce vestry?
Say VES-tree. The American pronunciation is /ˈvɛstri/. In British English it is /ˈvɛstri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in vestry?
Vestry has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VES). Broken into parts: VES · tree.
Do Americans and Brits say vestry the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈvɛstri/ and the British form is /ˈvɛstri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.