How to pronounce Elizabethan
Say it like el-ih-zuh-BEE-thun. Elizabethan has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (BEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Elizabethan. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- el
- ih
- zuh
- BEE
- thun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Elizabethan pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- elGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- zuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- BEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- thunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Elizabethan
American and British speakers say Elizabethan in essentially the same way: /ˌɛlɪzəˈbiθən/ in the US and /ˌɛlɪzəˈbiːθən/ in the UK.
British respelling: el-ih-zuh-BEE-thun.
What does Elizabethan mean?
- a person who lived during the reign of Elizabeth I“William Shakespeare was an Elizabethan”
- of or relating to Elizabeth I of England or to the age in which she ruled as queen“Elizabethan music”
Questions about saying Elizabethan
How do you pronounce Elizabethan?
Say el-ih-zuh-BEE-thun. The American pronunciation is /ˌɛlɪzəˈbiθən/. In British English it is /ˌɛlɪzəˈbiːθən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Elizabethan?
Elizabethan has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (BEE). Broken into parts: el · ih · zuh · BEE · thun.
Do Americans and Brits say Elizabethan the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɛlɪzəˈbiθən/ and the British form is /ˌɛlɪzəˈbiːθən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.