How to pronounce cuneiform
Say it like kyoo-NEE-uh-form. Cuneiform has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cuneiform. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kyoo
- NEE
- uh
- form
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cuneiform pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kyooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- NEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- formKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of cuneiform
- American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KYOO-nih-fawm.
What does cuneiform mean?
- An ancient Mesopotamian writing system, adapted within several language families, originating as pictograms in Sumer around the 30th century BCE, evolving into more abstract and characteristic wedge shapes formed by a blunt reed stylus on clayen tablets.
- A wedge-shaped bone, especially a cuneiform bone.
- Having the form of a wedge; wedge-shaped, especially with a tapered end.
- Written in the cuneiform writing system.
Where does cuneiform come from?
From French cunéiforme or New Latin cuneifōrmis, from Classical Latin cuneus (“wedge”) + fōrma.
Questions about saying cuneiform
How do you pronounce cuneiform?
Say kyoo-NEE-uh-form. The American pronunciation is /kjuˈniəfɔrm/. In British English it is /ˈkjuːnɪfɔːm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cuneiform?
Cuneiform has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NEE). Broken into parts: kyoo · NEE · uh · form.
Is cuneiform pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3. The British form is /ˈkjuːnɪfɔːm/ (KYOO-nih-fawm).