How to pronounce barbel
Say it like BAR-bul. Barbel has two 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 barbel. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAR
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Barbel 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.
- bulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of barbel
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BAH-bul.
What does barbel mean?
- A freshwater fish of the genus Barbus or other closely related taxa in the cyprinid family.
- A barb or pap under the tongue of a cow or horse.
- A whisker-like sensory organ, located around the mouth of certain fish, including carp, catfish, goatfish, sturgeon, and some types of shark.
Where does barbel come from?
From Middle English barbel, from Old French barbel, from Vulgar Latin *barbellus, from Late Latin barbulus, diminutive of Latin barbus (“barbel”); barbus itself is from barba (“beard”).
Words that rhyme with barbel
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of barbel.
Questions about saying barbel
How do you pronounce barbel?
Say BAR-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɑrbəl/. In British English it is /ˈbɑːbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in barbel?
Barbel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAR). Broken into parts: BAR · bul.
Is barbel 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 /ˈbɑːbəl/ (BAH-bul).