How to pronounce cabinet
Say it like KAB-uh-nut. Cabinet has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cabinet. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAB
- uh
- nut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cabinet pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KABSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of cabinet
American and British speakers say cabinet in essentially the same way: /ˈkæbənət/ in the US and /ˈkæbɪnɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAB-ih-nit.
What does cabinet mean?
- a piece of furniture resembling a cupboard with doors and shelves and drawers; for storage or display
- persons appointed by a head of state to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers
- a storage compartment for clothes and valuables; usually it has a lock
Where does cabinet come from?
In sense of “a government group”, compare salon, also named for a room used to gather.
Questions about saying cabinet
How do you pronounce cabinet?
Say KAB-uh-nut. The American pronunciation is /ˈkæbənət/. In British English it is /ˈkæbɪnɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cabinet?
Cabinet has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAB). Broken into parts: KAB · uh · nut.
Do Americans and Brits say cabinet the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkæbənət/ and the British form is /ˈkæbɪnɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.