How to pronounce carnage
Say it like KAR-nij. Carnage has two 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 carnage. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAR
- nij
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Carnage 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.
- nijKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of carnage
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KAH-nij.
What does carnage mean?
- Death and destruction.“There was carnage after the school play ended with 96 deaths.”
- The corpses, gore, etc. that remain after a massacre.
- Any great loss by a team; a game in which one team wins overwhelmingly.“The game against Sri Lanka and Australia was carnage with Australia winning by 287 runs.”
Where does carnage come from?
Borrowed from Middle French carnage, from a Norman or Picard variant Old Northern French) of Old French charnage, from char (“flesh”), or from Vulgar Latin *carnaticum (“slaughter of animals”), itself from Latin carnem, accusative of caro (“flesh”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying carnage
How do you pronounce carnage?
Say KAR-nij. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑrnɪdʒ/. In British English it is /ˈkɑːnɪdʒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in carnage?
Carnage has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAR). Broken into parts: KAR · nij.
Is carnage 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 /ˈkɑːnɪdʒ/ (KAH-nij).