How to pronounce coronavirus
Say it like kuh-ROH-nuh-vy-rus. Coronavirus has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ROH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce coronavirus. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- ROH
- nuh
- vy
- rus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Coronavirus 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.
- ROHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- vyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- rusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of coronavirus
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: kuh-ROH-nuh-vy-rus.
What does coronavirus mean?
- A member of the family Coronaviridae, comprising viruses which infect animals and human beings, and the genome of which consists of a single strand of RNA.
- SARS-CoV-2, the specific coronavirus that causes the infectious disease COVID-19.
- An illness caused by a coronavirus.
Where does coronavirus come from?
From corona (“crown-like circle of light appearing around the sun”) + virus.
Questions about saying coronavirus
How do you pronounce coronavirus?
Say kuh-ROH-nuh-vy-rus. The American pronunciation is /kəˈroʊnəˌvaɪrəs/. In British English it is /kəˈrəʊnəˌvaɪrəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in coronavirus?
Coronavirus has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ROH). Broken into parts: kuh · ROH · nuh · vy · rus.
Is coronavirus pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /kəˈrəʊnəˌvaɪrəs/ (kuh-ROH-nuh-vy-rus).