How to pronounce forbid
Say it like fer-BID. Forbid has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BID).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce forbid. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- fer
- BID
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Forbid pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ferKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- BIDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of forbid
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: fuh-BID.
What does forbid mean?
- command against“I forbid you to call me late at night”“Mother vetoed the trip to the chocolate store”
- keep from happening or arising; make impossible“My sense of tact forbids an honest answer”“Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project”
Where does forbid come from?
Norwegian Bokmål forby (“to forbid”), Swedish förbjuda (“to forbid”), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌱𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌽 (faurbiudan).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with forbid
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of forbid.
Questions about saying forbid
How do you pronounce forbid?
Say fer-BID. The American pronunciation is /fɚˈbɪd/. In British English it is /fəˈbɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in forbid?
Forbid has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BID). Broken into parts: fer · BID.
Is forbid 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 /fəˈbɪd/ (fuh-BID).