How to pronounce acanthus
Say it like uh-KAN-thus. Acanthus has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce acanthus. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- KAN
- thus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Acanthus pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- KANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- thusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of acanthus
American and British speakers say acanthus in essentially the same way: /əˈkænθəs/ in the US and /əˈkænθəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-KAN-thus.
What does acanthus mean?
- A member of the genus Acanthus of herbaceous prickly plants with toothed leaves, (family Acanthaceae, order Lamiales (formerly Scrophulariales)) found in the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and India.
- An ornament resembling the foliage or leaves of Acanthus spinosus, used in the capitals of the Corinthian and composite orders.
Questions about saying acanthus
How do you pronounce acanthus?
Say uh-KAN-thus. The American pronunciation is /əˈkænθəs/. In British English it is /əˈkænθəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in acanthus?
Acanthus has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAN). Broken into parts: uh · KAN · thus.
Do Americans and Brits say acanthus the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈkænθəs/ and the British form is /əˈkænθəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.