How to pronounce kombu
Say it like KOM-boo. Kombu has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOM).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kombu. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈkɑmbu/KOM-boo
UK British/ˈkɒmbuː/KOM-boo
- KOM
- boo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kombu pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- booKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of kombu
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOM-boo.
What does kombu mean?
noun
- Edible kelp (“a type of brown seaweed”) (from the class Phaeophyceae) used in East Asian cuisine.
- A kind of long horn instrument from Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Questions about saying kombu
How do you pronounce kombu?
Say KOM-boo. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑmbu/. In British English it is /ˈkɒmbuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kombu?
Kombu has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOM). Broken into parts: KOM · boo.
Is kombu pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈkɒmbuː/ (KOM-boo).