How to pronounce imbibe
Say it like im-BYBE. Imbibe has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BYBE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce imbibe. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- BYBE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Imbibe pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- imKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- BYBESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of imbibe
American and British speakers say imbibe in essentially the same way: /ɪmˈbaɪb/ in the US and /ɪmˈbaɪb/ in the UK.
British respelling: im-BYBE.
What does imbibe mean?
- To drink (used frequently of alcoholic beverages).
- To take in; absorb.“to imbibe knowledge”
Where does imbibe come from?
From Middle English imbiben, from Latin imbibō, from im- + bibō (“to drink”) (whence also beverage), from Proto-Italic *pibō, from Proto-Indo-European *peh₃-, whence also potable, potion.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with imbibe
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of imbibe.
Questions about saying imbibe
How do you pronounce imbibe?
Say im-BYBE. The American pronunciation is /ɪmˈbaɪb/. In British English it is /ɪmˈbaɪb/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in imbibe?
Imbibe has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BYBE). Broken into parts: im · BYBE.
Do Americans and Brits say imbibe the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪmˈbaɪb/ and the British form is /ɪmˈbaɪb/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.