How to pronounce carnivorous
Say it like kar-NIV-uh-rus. Carnivorous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NIV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce carnivorous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kar
- NIV
- uh
- rus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Carnivorous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- karKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- NIVSay 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 carnivorous
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: kah-NIV-uh-rus.
What does carnivorous mean?
- Of, or relating to carnivores, or the taxonomic order Carnivora.“carnivorous animal”
- Flesh-eating; (usually also specifically) predatorily so: that is, predatory.“carnivorous diet”
- Insectivorous: capable of trapping insects and absorbing nutrient from them.
Where does carnivorous come from?
From Latin carnivorus (“flesh-eating”).
Words that rhyme with carnivorous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of carnivorous.
Questions about saying carnivorous
How do you pronounce carnivorous?
Say kar-NIV-uh-rus. The American pronunciation is /kɑrˈnɪvərəs/. In British English it is /kɑːˈnɪvərəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in carnivorous?
Carnivorous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NIV). Broken into parts: kar · NIV · uh · rus.
Is carnivorous 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 /kɑːˈnɪvərəs/ (kah-NIV-uh-rus).