cemetery · symmetry
cemetery /ˈsɛm.ɪ.tər.i/ vs symmetry /ˈsɪm.ɪ.tri/ — look-alike words with different first vowels (/ɛ/ vs /ɪ/) and different syllable counts (4 vs 3). A classic learner spelling and pronunciation trap.
cemetery
SEM-i-ter-ee
4 syllables · stressed /ɛ/
symmetry
SIM-i-tree
3 syllables · stressed /ɪ/
noun — a burial ground, especially one not attached to a church — 'a cemetery in the city' · 'buried in the local cemetery'
mouth shape
stressed /ɛ/ first syllable — mouth mid-open for /ɛ/ (like 'bed') — 4 syllables: SEM-i-ter-ee — the stress is on SEM
cemetery
/ˈsɛmɪtəri/
vowel length
noun — the exact match between two halves of something — 'facial symmetry' · 'symmetry of design' · 'axis of symmetry'
mouth shape
stressed /ɪ/ first syllable — tongue high and forward for /ɪ/ (like 'bit') — 3 syllables: SIM-i-tree — NOT the same as CEM in cemetery
symmetry
/ˈsɪmɪtri/
vowel length
Stressed syllable spotlight — /ɛ/ vs /ɪ/
SEM-i-ter-ee
/ˈsɛmɪtəri/
First vowel: /ɛ/ — like “bed”
Mouth mid-open, lips slightly spread
SIM-i-tree
/ˈsɪmɪtri/
First vowel: /ɪ/ — like “bit”
Mouth nearly closed, tongue high
Key difference
These look and sound similar but differ in two ways. The first vowel of cemetery is /ɛ/— the sound in “bed” — mouth half-open. The first vowel of symmetry is /ɪ/— the sound in “bit” — mouth nearly closed. Also note: cemetery has 4 syllables (CEM-e-ter-y) while symmetry has only 3 (SYM-me-try).
Example sentences
cemetery:“They visited the old cemetery on All Saints Day.”
cemetery:“The cemetery dates back to the 18th century.”
symmetry:“The architect loved the symmetry of the building’s facade.”
symmetry:“A butterfly’s wings display perfect bilateral symmetry.”
Hear it in a sentence
“The old cemetery behind the church dated back to the twelfth century.”
“The architect was obsessed with perfect symmetry in every single design.”
Hear it in the wild
Real speech from native speakers — the most reliable way to check a pronunciation, since automated audio can vary by device and browser.
cemetery
Hear native speakers say “cemetery” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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symmetry
Hear native speakers say “symmetry” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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How teachers explain this
Approved tips from the community, sorted by helpfulness
Word families
cemetery family ▸
symmetry family ▸
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