How to pronounce Barbados
Say it like bar-BAY-dohs. Barbados has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Barbados. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bar
- BAY
- dohs
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Barbados pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- barKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- BAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- dohsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of Barbados
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: bah-BAY-dohs.
What does Barbados mean?
- An island and country in the Caribbean.
Where does Barbados come from?
From Portuguese barbados (“bearded ones”), from barba (“beard”), due to the dense hanging moss or vines in the island.
Questions about saying Barbados
How do you pronounce Barbados?
Say bar-BAY-dohs. The American pronunciation is /bɑrˈbeɪdoʊs/. In British English it is /bɑːˈbeɪdəʊs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Barbados?
Barbados has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BAY). Broken into parts: bar · BAY · dohs.
Is Barbados 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 /bɑːˈbeɪdəʊs/ (bah-BAY-dohs).