How to pronounce emu
Say it like EE-myoo. Emu has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce emu. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EE
- myoo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Emu pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- myooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of emu
American and British speakers say emu in essentially the same way: /ˈiˌmju/ in the US and /ˈiːmjuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: EE-myoo.
What does emu mean?
- A large flightless bird native to Australia, Dromaius novaehollandiae.
Where does emu come from?
Probably from Portuguese ema (“(originally) cassowary; giant rhea; (now) ostrich”).
Questions about saying emu
How do you pronounce emu?
Say EE-myoo. The American pronunciation is /ˈiˌmju/. In British English it is /ˈiːmjuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in emu?
Emu has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EE). Broken into parts: EE · myoo.
Do Americans and Brits say emu the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈiˌmju/ and the British form is /ˈiːmjuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.