How to pronounce absorb
Say it like ub-ZORB. Absorb has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZORB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce absorb. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ub
- ZORB
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Absorb pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ubKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- ZORBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of absorb
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: ub-ZAWB.
What does absorb mean?
- become imbued“The liquids, light, and gases absorb”
- take up mentally“he absorbed the knowledge or beliefs of his tribe”
- take up, as of debts or payments“absorb the costs for something”
Where does absorb come from?
From Middle French absorber, from Old French assorbir, from Latin absorbeō (“swallow up”), from ab- (“from”) + sorbeō (“suck in, swallow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *srebʰ- (“to sip”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying absorb
How do you pronounce absorb?
Say ub-ZORB. The American pronunciation is /əbˈzɔrb/. In British English it is /əbˈzɔːb/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in absorb?
Absorb has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZORB). Broken into parts: ub · ZORB.
Is absorb pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /əbˈzɔːb/ (ub-ZAWB).