How to pronounce fabulous
Say it like FAB-yuh-lus. Fabulous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fabulous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FAB
- yuh
- lus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fabulous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FABSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- yuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- lusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of fabulous
American and British speakers say fabulous in essentially the same way: /ˈfæbjələs/ in the US and /ˈfæbjʊləs/ in the UK.
British respelling: FAB-yuh-lus.
What does fabulous mean?
- extremely pleasing“a fabulous vacation”
- based on or told of in traditional stories; lacking factual basis or historical validity“mythical centaurs”“the fabulous unicorn”
- barely credible“the fabulous endurance of a marathon runner”
Where does fabulous come from?
From Late Middle English fabulous, fabulose, from Latin fābulōsus (“celebrated in fable”); Equivalent to fable + -ous.
Questions about saying fabulous
How do you pronounce fabulous?
Say FAB-yuh-lus. The American pronunciation is /ˈfæbjələs/. In British English it is /ˈfæbjʊləs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fabulous?
Fabulous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAB). Broken into parts: FAB · yuh · lus.
Do Americans and Brits say fabulous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfæbjələs/ and the British form is /ˈfæbjʊləs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.