How to pronounce cerebral
Say it like SER-uh-brul. Cerebral has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cerebral. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SER
- uh
- brul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cerebral pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- brulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of cerebral
American and British speakers say cerebral in essentially the same way: /ˈsɛrəbrəl/ in the US and /ˈsɛrɪbrəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: SER-ih-brul.
Other ways to say cerebral
Cerebral also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- suh-REE-brul /səˈribrəl/
What does cerebral mean?
- involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct“a cerebral approach to the problem”“cerebral drama”
- of or relating to the cerebrum or brain“cerebral hemisphere”“cerebral activity”
Where does cerebral come from?
Borrowing from French cérébral, from Latin cerebrum (“a brain”); equivalent to cerebrum + -al.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying cerebral
How do you pronounce cerebral?
Say SER-uh-brul. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛrəbrəl/. In British English it is /ˈsɛrɪbrəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cerebral?
Cerebral has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SER). Broken into parts: SER · uh · brul.
Do Americans and Brits say cerebral the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɛrəbrəl/ and the British form is /ˈsɛrɪbrəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.