How to pronounce carbonara
Say it like kar-buh-NAR-uh. Carbonara has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce carbonara. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kar
- buh
- NAR
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Carbonara 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.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of carbonara
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: kah-buh-NAH-ruh.
What does carbonara mean?
- A thick Italian pasta sauce, made with guanciale, grated cheese, beaten egg yolks and pepper.
- A spaghetti dish made using such a sauce.
- A spaghetti dish made using a similar sauce made from a different type of cured pork than guanciale (such as bacon, pancetta, lardons, gammon or ham).
Where does carbonara come from?
From the Italian carbonara, shortening of alla carbonara (literally “in the manner of charcoal burners”, or “in the manner of the Carbonari”), ultimately from carbone (“coal”).
Words that rhyme with carbonara
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of carbonara.
Questions about saying carbonara
How do you pronounce carbonara?
Say kar-buh-NAR-uh. The American pronunciation is /ˌkɑrbəˈnɑrə/. In British English it is /ˌkɑːbəˈnɑːrə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in carbonara?
Carbonara has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NAR). Broken into parts: kar · buh · NAR · uh.
Is carbonara 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 /ˌkɑːbəˈnɑːrə/ (kah-buh-NAH-ruh).