How to pronounce embarrassment
Say it like im-BER-uh-smunt. Embarrassment has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce embarrassment. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- BER
- uh
- smunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Embarrassment pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- imKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- BERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- smuntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of embarrassment
American and British speakers say embarrassment in essentially the same way: /ɪmˈbɛrəsmənt/ in the US and /ɪmˈbærəsmənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: im-BAR-uh-smunt.
What does embarrassment mean?
- the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
- the state of being embarrassed (usually by some financial inadequacy)“he is currently suffering financial embarrassments”
- some event that causes someone to be embarrassed“the outcome of the vote was an embarrassment for the liberals”
Where does embarrassment come from?
From embarrass + -ment.
Questions about saying embarrassment
How do you pronounce embarrassment?
Say im-BER-uh-smunt. The American pronunciation is /ɪmˈbɛrəsmənt/. In British English it is /ɪmˈbærəsmənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in embarrassment?
Embarrassment has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BER). Broken into parts: im · BER · uh · smunt.
Do Americans and Brits say embarrassment the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪmˈbɛrəsmənt/ and the British form is /ɪmˈbærəsmənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.