How to pronounce coulrophobia
Say it like kohl-ruh-FOH-bee-uh. Coulrophobia has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (FOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce coulrophobia. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kohl
- ruh
- FOH
- bee
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Coulrophobia pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kohlKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- FOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- beeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of coulrophobia
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: kohl-ruh-FOH-bee-uh.
What does coulrophobia mean?
- The fear of clowns.
Where does coulrophobia come from?
Coined in the late 1980s or 1990s, of unknown origin, appearing first, without further explanation, in lists of phobias circulating on the Internet.
Words that rhyme with coulrophobia
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of coulrophobia.
Questions about saying coulrophobia
How do you pronounce coulrophobia?
Say kohl-ruh-FOH-bee-uh. The American pronunciation is /koʊlrəˈfoʊbiə/. In British English it is /kəʊlrəˈfəʊbiə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in coulrophobia?
Coulrophobia has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (FOH). Broken into parts: kohl · ruh · FOH · bee · uh.
Is coulrophobia 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 /kəʊlrəˈfəʊbiə/ (kohl-ruh-FOH-bee-uh).