How to pronounce barbs
Say it like BARBZ. Barbs is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce barbs. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/bɑrbz/BARBZ
UK British/bɑːbz/BAHBZ
- BARBZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Barbs pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BARBZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of barbs
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BAHBZ.
What does barbs mean?
noun
- plural of barb How to pronounce barb
- third-person singular simple present indicative of barb How to pronounce barb
Questions about saying barbs
How do you pronounce barbs?
Say BARBZ. The American pronunciation is /bɑrbz/. In British English it is /bɑːbz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in barbs?
Barbs is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BARBZ.
Is barbs 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 /bɑːbz/ (BAHBZ).