How to pronounce beluga
Say it like buh-LOO-guh. Beluga has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce beluga. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- buh
- LOO
- guh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Beluga pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- guhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of beluga
American and British speakers say beluga in essentially the same way: /bəˈluɡə/ in the US and /bəˈluːɡə/ in the UK.
British respelling: buh-LOO-guh.
What does beluga mean?
- A whale, Delphinapterus leucas, found in the Arctic Ocean.
- A fish, Huso huso, that is a source of caviar, which is found in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
Questions about saying beluga
How do you pronounce beluga?
Say buh-LOO-guh. The American pronunciation is /bəˈluɡə/. In British English it is /bəˈluːɡə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in beluga?
Beluga has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOO). Broken into parts: buh · LOO · guh.
Do Americans and Brits say beluga the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bəˈluɡə/ and the British form is /bəˈluːɡə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.