magdalene laundry

Questions

What does magdalene laundry mean?

A religious facility in which prostitutes and unmarried mothers were kept, usually against their will, as a source of forced labour to launder clothes.

Where does magdalene laundry come from?

Named after Mary Magdalene, traditionally associated with prostitution and a patron saint of penitent sinners.

How to pronounce magdalene laundry

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “magdalene laundry”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “magdalene laundry”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “magdalene laundry” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.