How to pronounce erbium
Say it like UR-bee-um. Erbium has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce erbium. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- UR
- bee
- um
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Erbium pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- URSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- beeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- umKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of erbium
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: UR-bih-um.
What does erbium mean?
- A chemical element (symbol Er) with atomic number 68: a silvery-white metal, in nature always found in combination with other elements.
- An atom of this element.
Where does erbium come from?
Borrowed from New Latin erbium; itself from Swedish Ytterby (the name of the town where the element was discovered) + -ium.
Questions about saying erbium
How do you pronounce erbium?
Say UR-bee-um. The American pronunciation is /ˈɝbiəm/. In British English it is /ˈɜːbɪəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in erbium?
Erbium has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UR). Broken into parts: UR · bee · um.
Is erbium pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈɜːbɪəm/ (UR-bih-um).