How to pronounce barb
Say it like BARB. Barb is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce barb. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BARB
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Barb pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BARBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of barb
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BAHB.
What does barb mean?
- The point that stands backward in an arrow, fishhook, etc., to prevent it from being easily extracted. Hence: Anything which stands out with a sharp point obliquely or crosswise to something else.
- A hurtful or disparaging remark.“to trade barbs”
- A beard, or that which resembles it, or grows in the place of it.
- The Barbary horse, a superior breed introduced from Barbary into Spain by the Moors.
- A blackish or dun variety of pigeon, originally brought from Barbary.
- To furnish with barbs, or with that which will hold or hurt like barbs, as an arrow, fishhook, spear, etc.
- To cut (hair).
Where does barb come from?
From Middle English barbe, from Middle French barbe, from Old French barbe (“beard, beard-like element”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with barb
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of barb.
Questions about saying barb
How do you pronounce barb?
Say BARB. The American pronunciation is /bɑrb/. In British English it is /bɑːb/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in barb?
Barb is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BARB.
Is barb 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 /bɑːb/ (BAHB).