How to pronounce childbirth
Say it like CHYLD-burth. Childbirth has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHYLD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce childbirth. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- CHYLD
- burth
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Childbirth pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHYLDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- burthGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of childbirth
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: CHYLD-burth.
What does childbirth mean?
- The fact or action of giving birth to a child, as the culmination of pregnancy; the process by which it happens.
Where does childbirth come from?
From Middle English childbyrth [and other forms], perhaps a partial calque of Old Norse barnburðr (“childbearing, childbirth”, literally “bairn birth”); equivalent to child + birth.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying childbirth
How do you pronounce childbirth?
Say CHYLD-burth. The American pronunciation is /ˈtʃaɪldˌbɝθ/. In British English it is /ˈtʃaɪldˌbɜːθ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in childbirth?
Childbirth has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHYLD). Broken into parts: CHYLD · burth.
Is childbirth 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 /ˈtʃaɪldˌbɜːθ/ (CHYLD-burth).