How to pronounce imbue
Say it like im-BYOO. Imbue has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BYOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce imbue. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- BYOO
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Imbue 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.
- BYOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of imbue
American and British speakers say imbue in essentially the same way: /ɪmˈbju/ in the US and /ɪmˈbjuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: im-BYOO.
What does imbue mean?
- To instill or inspire (someone) with a certain quality, feeling, or idea.
- To wet or stain an object completely with some physical quality.“The shirt was imbued with his scent.”
- In general, to act in a way which results in an object becoming completely permeated or impregnated by some quality.“The entire text is imbued with the sense of melancholy and hopelessness.”
Where does imbue come from?
From Latin imbuō (“wet, moisten”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with imbue
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of imbue.
Questions about saying imbue
How do you pronounce imbue?
Say im-BYOO. The American pronunciation is /ɪmˈbju/. In British English it is /ɪmˈbjuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in imbue?
Imbue has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BYOO). Broken into parts: im · BYOO.
Do Americans and Brits say imbue the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪmˈbju/ and the British form is /ɪmˈbjuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.