How to pronounce cerulean
Say it like suh-ROO-lee-un. Cerulean has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ROO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cerulean. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- suh
- ROO
- lee
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cerulean pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- ROOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of cerulean
American and British speakers say cerulean in essentially the same way: /səˈruliən/ in the US and /səˈruːliən/ in the UK.
British respelling: suh-ROO-lee-un.
What does cerulean mean?
- A greenish-blue color.
- Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genus Jamides.
- Sky-blue.
Where does cerulean come from?
From Latin caeruleus (“blue”) + -an, from caelum (“sky, heaven”) + -uleus (diminutive suffix).
Questions about saying cerulean
How do you pronounce cerulean?
Say suh-ROO-lee-un. The American pronunciation is /səˈruliən/. In British English it is /səˈruːliən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cerulean?
Cerulean has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ROO). Broken into parts: suh · ROO · lee · un.
Do Americans and Brits say cerulean the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /səˈruliən/ and the British form is /səˈruːliən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.