Proper Pronunciation Guide

February

[fɛb̚ juɛ͜ɚi]

[fɛb̚ ru ɛ͜ɚ i]

Tips:

  • The letter “r” may be omitted as in the first pronunciation above or retained as in the second pronunciation.
  • Pronounce the letter “u” as
    /ju/ — like the name of the letter itself — when the letter “r” is omitted as in the first pronunciation, and pronounce the letter “u” as
    /u/ when it follows the consonant /r/ as in the second pronunciation above.  
  • Pronounce the vowel in the third syllable as “air”
    /ɛ͜ɚ/—like the word “air.”
  • Use the consonant glide
    /w/ to link from the second to the third syllable—from
    /ju/, or
    /u/ , to
    /ɛ͜ɚ/.
  • The last two syllables (including the linking consonant glide /w/) are homophones with the word “wary,” which means to be careful or cautious.

Practice Sentences:

 Valentine's Day is on February 14th.
Be wary of ice in February.

Notes:

While the second pronunciation given here is probably more “correct,” many people omit the first letter “r” because it is easier to pronounce the word without it. Many speakers omit one “r” in words having two “r” sounds such as “governor,” “surprise,” and “reservoir,” for ease of pronunciation. Further, when a “long u” sound follows the consonant /r/, it is pronounced /u/ — rude, rule, bruise, grew, true— whereas when it follows the consonant /b/, it is pronounced /ju/ — abuse, rebuke, bucolic, bugle, butane. The /ju/ pronunciation in February also rhymes with January, thereby strengthening the aural association of the two words, which are the first two months of the year and comprise the two months with the most severe winter weather (Be wary of ice in January and February).

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