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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

kentucky

/kənˈtʌki/

Press play to hear how to pronounce kentucky.

American Pronunciation Guide · 0:23
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Give “tuck” the main stress.

The first vowel is relaxed. Make the middle vowel, as in cup, stand out and finish with a lighter ee vowel after the hard k sound.

3 syllables · Stress on syllable 2

TRY SAYING
She studied at a college in Kentucky.

APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

What does kentucky mean?

proper noun

  1. A state of the United States. Capital: Frankfort. Largest city: Louisville. Formally known as the Commonwealth of Kentucky, one of four such states known as Commonwealths.
  2. A village in Uralla Shire and the Tamworth council area, on the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia.
  3. Ellipsis of University of Kentucky.
More meanings (2)

proper noun

  1. A tributary of the Ohio River in Kentucky, United States.
  2. An unincorporated community in Munising Township, Michigan.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/kənˈtʌki/

Pronunciation used in the listening tip.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

The evening's entertainment concluded by Sam's relating a little of his own experience while with his first master, in old Kentucky.
William Wells BrownClotelle; Or, The Colored Heroine, a tale of the Southern States; Or, The President's DaughterProject Gutenberg ebook #241
From one of the proudest families in Kentucky he had inherited a set of fine European features, and a high, indomitable spirit.
Harriet Beecher StoweUncle Tom's CabinProject Gutenberg ebook #203
More book examples (3)
When we moved from Kentucky to Missouri, I took a severe cold on the boat, which made me an invalid for years.
Carry Amelia NationThe Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. NationProject Gutenberg ebook #1485
Audubon tells of a certain plane tree in Kentucky where he counted over nine thousand of these swifts clinging to the hollow trunk.
Neltje BlanchanBird Neighbors An Introductory Acquaintance with One Hundred and Fifty Birds Commonly Found in the Gardens, Meadows, and Woods About Our HomesProject Gutenberg ebook #1889
It is well known that several animals, belonging to the most different classes, which inhabit the caves of Carniola and Kentucky, are blind.
Charles DarwinThe Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection Or, the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, 6th EditionProject Gutenberg ebook #2009