How to pronounce Columbus
Say it like kuh-LUHM-bus. Columbus has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LUHM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Columbus. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- LUHM
- bus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Columbus pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LUHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- busKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Columbus
American and British speakers say Columbus in essentially the same way: /kəˈlʌmbəs/ in the US and /kəˈlʌmbəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: kuh-LUHM-bus.
What does Columbus mean?
- the state capital of Ohio; located in the center of the state; site of Ohio State University
- Italian navigator who discovered the New World in the service of Spain while looking for a route to China (1451-1506)
- a town in eastern Mississippi near the border with Alabama
Questions about saying Columbus
How do you pronounce Columbus?
Say kuh-LUHM-bus. The American pronunciation is /kəˈlʌmbəs/. In British English it is /kəˈlʌmbəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Columbus?
Columbus has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LUHM). Broken into parts: kuh · LUHM · bus.
Do Americans and Brits say Columbus the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəˈlʌmbəs/ and the British form is /kəˈlʌmbəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.