How to pronounce dubious
Say it like DOO-bee-us. Dubious has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOO).
VoiceSpeed
US American/ˈdubiəs/DOO-bee-us
UK British/ˈdjuːbɪəs/DYOO-beers
- DOO
- bee
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dubious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- beeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of dubious
- American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2.
- British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune).
British respelling: DYOO-beers.
What does dubious mean?
adjective
- Arousing doubt; questionable; open to suspicion.“After he made some dubious claims about the company, fewer people trusted him.”
- In disbelief; wavering, uncertain, or hesitating in opinion; inclined to doubt; undecided.“She was dubious about my plan at first, but later I managed to persuade her to cooperate.”
- Generally considered imprecise or wrong, but not totally unplayable.
Where does dubious come from?
From Latin dubius; like doubt, from Latin duo (cognate to English two), implying “two alternatives” (yes or no, true or false, etc.).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying dubious
How do you pronounce dubious?
Say DOO-bee-us. The American pronunciation is /ˈdubiəs/. In British English it is /ˈdjuːbɪəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dubious?
Dubious has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOO). Broken into parts: DOO · bee · us.
Is dubious pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2. The British form is /ˈdjuːbɪəs/ (DYOO-beers).