How to pronounce asbestos
Say it like as-BES-tus. Asbestos has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce asbestos. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- as
- BES
- tus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Asbestos pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- asKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- BESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of asbestos
American and British speakers say asbestos in essentially the same way: /æsˈbɛstəs/ in the US and /æsˈbɛstɒs/ in the UK.
British respelling: as-BES-tos.
What does asbestos mean?
- a fibrous amphibole; used for making fireproof articles; inhaling fibers can cause asbestosis or lung cancer
Questions about saying asbestos
How do you pronounce asbestos?
Say as-BES-tus. The American pronunciation is /æsˈbɛstəs/. In British English it is /æsˈbɛstɒs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in asbestos?
Asbestos has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BES). Broken into parts: as · BES · tus.
Do Americans and Brits say asbestos the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /æsˈbɛstəs/ and the British form is /æsˈbɛstɒs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.