How to pronounce carboniferous
Say it like kar-buh-NIF-uh-rus. Carboniferous has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NIF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce carboniferous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kar
- buh
- NIF
- uh
- rus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Carboniferous 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.
- NIFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of carboniferous
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: kah-buh-NIF-uh-rus.
What does carboniferous mean?
- Containing or producing carbon.
Where does carboniferous come from?
From carbon + -i- + -ferous.
Words that rhyme with carboniferous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of carboniferous.
Questions about saying carboniferous
How do you pronounce carboniferous?
Say kar-buh-NIF-uh-rus. The American pronunciation is /ˌkɑrbəˈnɪfərəs/. In British English it is /ˌkɑːbəˈnɪfərəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in carboniferous?
Carboniferous has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NIF). Broken into parts: kar · buh · NIF · uh · rus.
Is carboniferous 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 /ˌkɑːbəˈnɪfərəs/ (kah-buh-NIF-uh-rus).