How to pronounce aboriginal
Say it like ab-uh-RIJ-uh-nul. Aboriginal has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RIJ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce aboriginal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ab
- uh
- RIJ
- uh
- nul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Aboriginal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- abGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RIJSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of aboriginal
American and British speakers say aboriginal in essentially the same way: /ˌæbəˈrɪdʒənəl/ in the US and /ˌæbəˈrɪdʒɪnəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: ab-uh-RIJ-ih-nul.
What does aboriginal mean?
- an indigenous person who was born in a particular place“the art of the natives of the northwest coast”“the Canadian government scrapped plans to tax the grants to aboriginal college students”
- characteristic of or relating to people inhabiting a region from the beginning“native Americans”“the aboriginal peoples of Australia”
- having existed from the beginning; in an earliest or original stage or state“aboriginal forests”“primal eras before the appearance of life on earth”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying aboriginal
How do you pronounce aboriginal?
Say ab-uh-RIJ-uh-nul. The American pronunciation is /ˌæbəˈrɪdʒənəl/. In British English it is /ˌæbəˈrɪdʒɪnəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in aboriginal?
Aboriginal has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RIJ). Broken into parts: ab · uh · RIJ · uh · nul.
Do Americans and Brits say aboriginal the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌæbəˈrɪdʒənəl/ and the British form is /ˌæbəˈrɪdʒɪnəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.