How to pronounce buckthorn
Say it like BUHK-thorn. Buckthorn has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce buckthorn. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BUHK
- thorn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Buckthorn pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BUHKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- thornKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of buckthorn
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BUHK-thawn.
What does buckthorn mean?
- especially genus Rhamnus,
- especially common buckthorn or purging buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica).
- also alder buckthorn (Frangula), especially Frangula alnus).
Where does buckthorn come from?
Calque of Latin cervī spīna (“deer's thorny shrub”), cervi (“deer's”) being the genitive singular of cervus (“deer”), from Proto-Italic *kerwos, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱr̥h₂wós, from *ḱerh₂- (“horn”) + *-wós, spīna (“thorny shrub”) from
Questions about saying buckthorn
How do you pronounce buckthorn?
Say BUHK-thorn. The American pronunciation is /ˈbʌkθɔrn/. In British English it is /ˈbʌkθɔːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in buckthorn?
Buckthorn has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHK). Broken into parts: BUHK · thorn.
Is buckthorn 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 /ˈbʌkθɔːn/ (BUHK-thawn).