How to pronounce berbere
Say it like beh-er-BEH-er-ray. Berbere has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BEH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce berbere. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- beh
- er
- BEH
- er
- ray
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Berbere pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- behKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- BEHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- rayKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of berbere
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: beh-uh-BEH-uh-ray.
What does berbere mean?
- A spice mixture, usually consisting of chili peppers, garlic, ginger, basil, and other spices, which is used in Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine.
Where does berbere come from?
From Amharic በርበሬ (bärbäre) and/or Tigrinya በርበረ (bärbärä).
Questions about saying berbere
How do you pronounce berbere?
Say beh-er-BEH-er-ray. The American pronunciation is /bɛɚˈbɛɚreɪ/. In British English it is /bɛəˈbɛəreɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in berbere?
Berbere has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BEH). Broken into parts: beh · er · BEH · er · ray.
Is berbere 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 /bɛəˈbɛəreɪ/ (beh-uh-BEH-uh-ray).