USA
How to pronounce
Philadelphia
fih·luh·DEHL·fee·uh
American /ˌfɪl.əˈdɛl.fi.ə/
Sound by sound
5 little beats. BIG = the stressed part.
- fih the ‘ih’ in sit
- luh the relaxed ‘uh’ in sofa
- DEHL the ‘eh’ in bed — say this beat loudest
- fee the ‘ee’ in see
- uh the relaxed ‘uh’ in sofa
Don’t say…
- fih-luh-DEL-fuh (collapsing the last two beats)
- FIL-uh-del-fee-uh (stress too far forward)
- fih·luh·DEHL·fee·uh — stress on DEHL
Where the name comes from
Philadelphia is Greek for “brotherly love” — from philos (loving) and adelphos (brother). The Quaker founder William Penn, an Oxford-educated classicist, chose it in 1681 for the city he meant as a refuge where people of every faith could live together as brothers. That meaning gives the city its enduring nickname, the City of Brotherly Love.
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Nickname
- The City of Brotherly Love (“Philly”)
- World Cup venue
- Lincoln Financial Field (branded “Philadelphia Stadium” for the tournament)
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Practice in the appFAQ
How do you pronounce Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is pronounced fih·luh·DEHL·fee·uh in American English — 5 beats, with the stress on DEHL.
Where does the name Philadelphia come from?
Philadelphia is Greek for “brotherly love” — from <em>philos</em> (loving) and <em>adelphos</em> (brother). The Quaker founder <strong>William Penn</strong>, an Oxford-educated classicist, chose it in 1681 for the city he meant as a refuge where people of every faith could live together as brothers. That meaning gives the city its enduring nickname, the City of Brotherly Love.
How many World Cup matches will Philadelphia host?
Six at Lincoln Financial Field — five group-stage games and one Round of 16, the latter on July 4, 2026, the same day Philadelphia anchors the United States’ 250th-anniversary celebrations.
Why is Philadelphia called the City of Brotherly Love?
Because that is what the name means in Greek — <em>philos</em> (loving) plus <em>adelphos</em> (brother). William Penn coined it in 1681 for a city built on religious tolerance.