How to pronounce featherbed
Say it like FETH-er-bed. Featherbed has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FETH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce featherbed. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FETH
- er
- bed
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Featherbed pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FETHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- bedGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of featherbed
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FETH-uh-bed.
What does featherbed mean?
- A mattress stuffed with feathers.
- An area of bog where a layer of moss covers a pool of water or mud, presenting a hazard to walkers who may fall through it. (Also in UK and Irish placenames.)
- A soft, slow pitch of predictable bounce.
- To treat someone with excessive indulgence; to pamper, cosset or mollycoddle.
- To engage in featherbedding; to employ more workers than necessary to fulfill a labor union requirement.
Where does featherbed come from?
From feather + bed.
Questions about saying featherbed
How do you pronounce featherbed?
Say FETH-er-bed. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɛðɚˌbɛd/. In British English it is /ˈfɛðəˌbɛd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in featherbed?
Featherbed has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FETH). Broken into parts: FETH · er · bed.
Is featherbed 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 /ˈfɛðəˌbɛd/ (FETH-uh-bed).