How to pronounce gingerbread
Say it like JIN-jer-bred. Gingerbread has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JIN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce gingerbread. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JIN
- jer
- bred
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Gingerbread pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JINSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- jerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- bredGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of gingerbread
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: JIN-juh-bred.
What does gingerbread mean?
- A type of cake whose main flavoring is ginger.
- A flamboyant Victorian-era architectural style.
- To decorate or embellish in an ornate or intricate way.
Where does gingerbread come from?
From Middle English gyngebred, gyngebrede, from Old French gingembras, gingimbrat (“preserved ginger”), from Medieval Latin *gingimbrātus (“gingered”, presumably referring to ginger that perhaps had a pharmaceutical use for some medicinal p
Questions about saying gingerbread
How do you pronounce gingerbread?
Say JIN-jer-bred. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʒɪndʒɚˌbrɛd/. In British English it is /ˈdʒɪndʒəˌbrɛd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in gingerbread?
Gingerbread has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JIN). Broken into parts: JIN · jer · bred.
Is gingerbread 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 /ˈdʒɪndʒəˌbrɛd/ (JIN-juh-bred).