How to pronounce “anchorage”
Anchorage is pronounced /ˈæŋkərədʒ/. It has 3 syllables, and the beat falls on the first one — æŋ. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 3 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting æŋ in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern Ooo — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“anchorage” sound by sound
“anchorage” is built out of 6 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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æDrop the jaw noticeably, push the front of the tongue low and forward, and spread the lips — it is a flat, bright, fairly long American vowel.
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ŋRaise the back of the tongue against the soft palate as if for /ɡ/, but let the voiced air escape through the nose instead of releasing it.
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kRaise the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate, seal the air, then release it with a puff.
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ərThe same r-coloured tongue shape as /ɜːr/ but weak, short and unstressed — the ending of "teacher", "doctor", "sugar".
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əDo almost nothing: leave the tongue in its neutral resting position, mouth slightly open, and make the shortest, weakest possible vowel.
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dʒThe voiced twin of /tʃ/: stop the air with the tongue at the ridge and release it into a voiced /ʒ/ buzz.
Silent letters in “anchorage”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Questions people ask about “anchorage”
- How do you pronounce “anchorage”?
- “anchorage” is pronounced /ˈæŋkərədʒ/, with the stress on the first syllable (æŋ). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “anchorage”?
- “anchorage” has 3 syllables: æŋ · kər · ədʒ. The stress pattern is Ooo.
- Does “anchorage” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
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