A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Athens
How to pronounce Athens, the capital of Greece, with the correct stress and vowel sounds.
athens
ATH-unz
/ˈæθənz/ · ATH · unz
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It's a common name in geography and classical studies.
Where the word comes from
The name Athens comes from Ancient Greek Ἀθῆναι (Athênai), the plural of Ἀθᾶναι (Athânai), believed to be named after the goddess Athena.
Common ways people get it wrong
- uh-THENS This often happens because English speakers might default to an unstressed 'uh' sound for the first syllable. Remember to stress the first syllable and use the 'a' sound as in 'cat'.
- AY-thinz The initial vowel is typically a short 'a' sound like in 'apple', not a long 'a' like in 'say'. The final 's' sound is a voiced 'z'.
Frequently asked
Is it pronounced Athens like the city or Athens like the character?
The pronunciation is the same for both the city in Greece and the mythological figure Athena. The key is stressing the first syllable: ATH-unz.
What's the difference between American and British pronunciation of Athens?
While there can be slight variations, the standard pronunciation in both American and British English is very similar, focusing on the 'ATH' sound at the start.
How do I say the 's' at the end of Athens?
The 's' at the end of Athens is pronounced as a 'z' sound, like in the word 'haze' or 'buzz'. So it's ATH-unz, not ATH-uns.
