How to pronounce ebb
Say it like EB. Ebb is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ebb. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EB
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ebb pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of ebb
American and British speakers say ebb in essentially the same way: /ɛb/ in the US and /ɛb/ in the UK.
British respelling: EB.
What does ebb mean?
- to flow back or recede“The tides ebbed at noon.”
- to fall away or decline“The dying man's strength ebbed away.”
- to fish with stakes and nets that serve to prevent the fish from getting back into the sea with the ebb
- The receding movement of the tide.“The boats will go out on the ebb.”
- A gradual decline.
- A low state; a state of depression.
- low, shallow
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with ebb
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ebb.
Questions about saying ebb
How do you pronounce ebb?
Say EB. The American pronunciation is /ɛb/. In British English it is /ɛb/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ebb?
Ebb is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: EB.
Do Americans and Brits say ebb the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɛb/ and the British form is /ɛb/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.