How to pronounce Cebu
Say it like see-BOO. Cebu has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Cebu. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- see
- BOO
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cebu pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- seeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- BOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of Cebu
American and British speakers say Cebu in essentially the same way: /siˈbu/ in the US and /sɛˈbuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: seh-BOO.
What does Cebu mean?
- An island of Central Visayas, Visayas, Philippines.
- A province of Central Visayas, Visayas, Philippines. Capital and largest city: Cebu City.
- Cebu City (a city, the provincial capital of Cebu, Philippines).
Where does Cebu come from?
From Spanish Cebú, from Cebuano Sugbo, from sugbo (“to dive into the water”).
Words that rhyme with Cebu
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Cebu.
Questions about saying Cebu
How do you pronounce Cebu?
Say see-BOO. The American pronunciation is /siˈbu/. In British English it is /sɛˈbuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Cebu?
Cebu has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BOO). Broken into parts: see · BOO.
Do Americans and Brits say Cebu the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /siˈbu/ and the British form is /sɛˈbuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.