How to pronounce garbage
Say it like GAR-bij. Garbage has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce garbage. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GAR
- bij
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Garbage pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- bijKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of garbage
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: GAH-bij.
What does garbage mean?
- food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
- a worthless message
- a receptacle where waste can be discarded“she tossed the moldy bread into the garbage”
Where does garbage come from?
Akin to Old High German garawan (“to prepare, make ready”), Old English ġearwian (“to make ready, adorn”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying garbage
How do you pronounce garbage?
Say GAR-bij. The American pronunciation is /ˈɡɑrbɪdʒ/. In British English it is /ˈɡɑːbɪdʒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in garbage?
Garbage has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GAR). Broken into parts: GAR · bij.
Is garbage 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 /ˈɡɑːbɪdʒ/ (GAH-bij).