How to pronounce Hannibal
Say it like HAN-ih-bul. Hannibal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Hannibal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAN
- ih
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hannibal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- bulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Hannibal
American and British speakers say Hannibal in essentially the same way: /ˈhænɪbəl/ in the US and /ˈhænɪbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAN-ih-bul.
What does Hannibal mean?
- general who commanded the Carthaginian army in the second Punic War; crossed the Alps and defeated the Romans but was recalled to defend Carthage and was defeated (247-182 BC)
- a town in northeast Missouri on the Mississippi River; boyhood home of Mark Twain
Questions about saying Hannibal
How do you pronounce Hannibal?
Say HAN-ih-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˈhænɪbəl/. In British English it is /ˈhænɪbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Hannibal?
Hannibal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAN). Broken into parts: HAN · ih · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say Hannibal the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhænɪbəl/ and the British form is /ˈhænɪbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.