Worcestershire sauce. Even native English speakers stumble over this one. With 14 letters that seem to defy pronunciation rules, this word has become legendary for being difficult. But here's the secret: it's only THREE syllables.
The Correct Pronunciation
Say it like this: WUS-ter-sher (3 syllables)
NOT: wor-CEST-er-SHY-er (5 syllables) ❌
Breaking It Down
The word looks impossible, but break it into parts:
- Worces- → WUS (one syllable!)
- -ter- → ter
- -shire → sher (not "shy-er")
The key insight: "Worces" compresses into "WUS" and "-shire" becomes "sher" (rhymes with "her").
Step-by-Step Guide
- WUS /wʊs/ - Like "would" without the "ld" + "s". Rhymes with "puss" (cat)
- ter /tər/ - Quick, unstressed schwa syllable
- sher /ʃər/ - Like "sure" but shorter. Rhymes with "her"
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1: Trying to pronounce every syllable
❌ WOR-sess-ter-shy-er
✅ WUS-ter-sher
Mistake #2: Pronouncing "-shire" as two syllables
❌ WUS-ter-SHY-er
✅ WUS-ter-sher
Mistake #3: Saying "wor" instead of "wus"
❌ WOR-ster-sher
✅ WUS-ter-sher
Why Is It Pronounced This Way?
British place names often swallow syllables. The "-cester" ending (from Latin "castra" meaning camp) is ALWAYS reduced:
- Worcestershire → WUS-ter-sher
- Leicester → LES-ter
- Gloucester → GLOS-ter
And "-shire" (meaning county) becomes just "sher" when attached to another word.
Practice with British Place Names
These follow the same pattern of syllable reduction:
More "-shire" Counties
Quick Practice
Say these sentences aloud:
- "Pass the Worcestershire sauce, please."
- "This recipe calls for Worcestershire sauce."
- "Worcestershire is a county in England."
- "I always mispronounced Worcestershire until now."
Memory Trick
Think of it as: "What's-ter-sher" sauce
Or remember: WUS (like "would" + s) + ter + sher (rhymes with "her")
Key Takeaways
- Only 3 syllables: WUS-ter-sher
- "Worces" becomes just "WUS"
- "-shire" becomes "sher" (one syllable, rhymes with "her")
- Same pattern for Leicester (LES-ter), Gloucester (GLOS-ter)
- British place names love to swallow syllables!
Now you can confidently order that Worcestershire sauce without hesitation!