butchry), that of the burglar is burglary (not burglry), the result of the work of a jeweller is jewellery (not jewelry) -- it has four syllables. Like most things English, it's not that simple. The word "jewelry" goes back to the 14th century, quite awhile before the word or concept of "jeweler" (Am spelling) and basically meant things made with jewels or precious metal; compare "finery", etc. The suffix -- ry has never meant simply "the product of". Compare "brewery"- not the product of a brewer, but the place where brewing is done. Likewise laundry, winery. What you have here is not a pronunciation issue, but one of vocabulary. The word *jewelry* is pronounced JOOL-REE or JOO-EL-REE, not JOOL-ER-EE or JOO-EL-ER-EE. The spelling makes that obvious; there's nothing between the L and the R. The later word, *jewellery* -- is pronounced with 3 or 4 syllables, as you say. The two mean basically the same thing now, but are really 2 different words, etymologically. I think the -- ry version, tho older, is more common in AmE (where jeweler is spelled with 1 L, as well), whereas the -ery is more common in BrE. Don't know why that is. I.Ken Seymour on June 14, 2011 3:36 am In Queensland, Australia, the state football team wears a maroon jersey, but they call themselves 'marones' and spell it as maroon. Just go to New Zealand to hear mispronunciation of the mother tongue to extremes. Melanie B. on June 15, 2011 2:48 pm