How to pronounce carceral
Say it like KAR-suh-rul. Carceral has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce carceral. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAR
- suh
- rul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Carceral pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of carceral
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KAH-suh-rul.
What does carceral mean?
- Of or pertaining to imprisonment or a prison.
Where does carceral come from?
From Late Latin carcerālis (“carceral”), from Latin carcer (“jail, prison”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to bend, turn, in the sense of an enclosure”)) + -ālis (suffix forming relational adjectives).
Questions about saying carceral
How do you pronounce carceral?
Say KAR-suh-rul. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑrsərəl/. In British English it is /ˈkɑːsərəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in carceral?
Carceral has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAR). Broken into parts: KAR · suh · rul.
Is carceral 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 /ˈkɑːsərəl/ (KAH-suh-rul).