How to pronounce bilirubin
Say it like bih-lih-ROO-bin. Bilirubin has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (ROO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bilirubin. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- lih
- ROO
- bin
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bilirubin pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- bihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- lihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ROOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- binKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of bilirubin
American and British speakers say bilirubin in essentially the same way: /bɪlɪˈrubɪn/ in the US and /bɪlɪˈruːbɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: bih-lih-ROO-bin.
What does bilirubin mean?
- A bile pigment that is a product of the breakdown of the heme portion of hemoglobin (which occurs within macrophages as they digest red blood cells), and which is responsible for the yellowish color seen in bruises. Extremely high levels of bilirubin may cause jaundice.
Where does bilirubin come from?
From international scientific vocabulary, from German Bilirubin.
Questions about saying bilirubin
How do you pronounce bilirubin?
Say bih-lih-ROO-bin. The American pronunciation is /bɪlɪˈrubɪn/. In British English it is /bɪlɪˈruːbɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bilirubin?
Bilirubin has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (ROO). Broken into parts: bih · lih · ROO · bin.
Do Americans and Brits say bilirubin the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bɪlɪˈrubɪn/ and the British form is /bɪlɪˈruːbɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.