How to pronounce jab
Say it like JAB. Jab is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce jab. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JAB
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Jab pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JABSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of jab
American and British speakers say jab in essentially the same way: /dʒæb/ in the US and /dʒæb/ in the UK.
British respelling: JAB.
What does jab mean?
- A quick stab or blow; a poking or thrusting motion.
- A short straight punch.
- A medical hypodermic injection (vaccination or inoculation).“Our dog was exposed to rabies, so the whole family went to a clinic to get our jabs.”
- To poke or thrust abruptly, or to make such a motion.
- To deliver a quick punch.
- To give someone an injection.
Where does jab come from?
Originally a Scottish (unclear if Scots or Scottish English) form of English job (“peck, poke, thrust”), from Middle English jobben.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with jab
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of jab.
Questions about saying jab
How do you pronounce jab?
Say JAB. The American pronunciation is /dʒæb/. In British English it is /dʒæb/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in jab?
Jab is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: JAB.
Do Americans and Brits say jab the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dʒæb/ and the British form is /dʒæb/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.