How to pronounce centrifugal
Say it like sen-TRIF-yuh-gul. Centrifugal has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRIF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce centrifugal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sen
- TRIF
- yuh
- gul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Centrifugal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- senKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- TRIFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- yuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- gulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of centrifugal
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 3.
British respelling: sen-trih-FYOO-gul.
What does centrifugal mean?
- Tending, or causing, to recede from the center.
- Expanding first at the summit, and later at the base, as a flower cluster.
- Having the radicle turned toward the sides of the fruit, as some embryos.
- A rotating machine used to separate massecuite into sugar crystals and molasses.
Where does centrifugal come from?
From New Latin centrifugālis, coined by Christiaan Huygens from Latin centrum (“center”) + fugiō (“to flee”) + -al.
Questions about saying centrifugal
How do you pronounce centrifugal?
Say sen-TRIF-yuh-gul. The American pronunciation is /sɛnˈtrɪfjəɡəl/. In British English it is /ˌsɛntrɪˈfjuːɡəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in centrifugal?
Centrifugal has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRIF). Broken into parts: sen · TRIF · yuh · gul.
Is centrifugal pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 3. The British form is /ˌsɛntrɪˈfjuːɡəl/ (sen-trih-FYOO-gul).