How to pronounce crowbar
Say it like KROH-bar. Crowbar has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KROH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce crowbar. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KROH
- bar
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Crowbar pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KROHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- barGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of crowbar
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: KROH-bah.
What does crowbar mean?
- An iron or steel bar, often with a flattened end which may also be hook-shaped, to be used as a lever to manually force things apart.
- An electrical circuit that prevents an overvoltage from causing damage.
- A type of cocktail made with only Crown Royal whiskey and lemon lime soda.
- To force to move, usually with a crowbar; to prise.“He crowbarred the door open.”
Where does crowbar come from?
From crow (“crow (bird)" also "metal lever, crowbar”) + bar, probably because the forked end looks like a crow's foot.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying crowbar
How do you pronounce crowbar?
Say KROH-bar. The American pronunciation is /ˈkroʊˌbɑr/. In British English it is /ˈkrəʊˌbɑː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in crowbar?
Crowbar has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KROH). Broken into parts: KROH · bar.
Is crowbar 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 /ˈkrəʊˌbɑː/ (KROH-bah).