How to pronounce barbecue
Say it like BAR-bih-kyoo. Barbecue has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce barbecue. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAR
- bih
- kyoo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Barbecue pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- bihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- kyooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of barbecue
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BAH-bih-kyoo.
What does barbecue mean?
- cook outdoors on a barbecue grill“let's barbecue that meat”“We cooked out in the forest”
- meat that has been barbecued or grilled in a highly seasoned sauce
- a cookout in which food is cooked over an open fire; especially a whole animal carcass roasted on a spit
- a rack to hold meat for cooking over hot charcoal usually out of doors
Where does barbecue come from?
From mid-17th century.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with barbecue
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of barbecue.
Words that sound like barbecue
Questions about saying barbecue
How do you pronounce barbecue?
Say BAR-bih-kyoo. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɑrbɪˌkju/. In British English it is /ˈbɑːbɪˌkjuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in barbecue?
Barbecue has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAR). Broken into parts: BAR · bih · kyoo.
Is barbecue 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 /ˈbɑːbɪˌkjuː/ (BAH-bih-kyoo).
What words sound the same as barbecue?
Barbecue sounds the same as barbeque in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.