How to pronounce carbohydrate
Say it like kar-boh-HY-drayt. Carbohydrate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (HY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce carbohydrate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kar
- boh
- HY
- drayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Carbohydrate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- karGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- bohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- HYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- draytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of carbohydrate
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: kah-boh-HY-drayt.
What does carbohydrate mean?
- A sugar, starch, or cellulose that is a food source of energy for an animal or plant.“These microbes are primarily responsible for breaking down cellulose and other carbohydrates into volatile fatty acids (VFAs).”
- Any food rich in starch or other carbohydrates.“I'm cutting down on carbohydrates like bread and pasta.”
Where does carbohydrate come from?
From their general formula Cₙ(H₂O)ₙ; they were once thought to be hydrates of carbon.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying carbohydrate
How do you pronounce carbohydrate?
Say kar-boh-HY-drayt. The American pronunciation is /ˌkɑrboʊˈhaɪˌdreɪt/. In British English it is /kɑːbəʊˈhaɪdreɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in carbohydrate?
Carbohydrate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (HY). Broken into parts: kar · boh · HY · drayt.
Is carbohydrate 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 /kɑːbəʊˈhaɪdreɪt/ (kah-boh-HY-drayt).