How to pronounce limbo
Say it like LIM-boh. Limbo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce limbo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIM
- boh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Limbo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LIMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- bohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of limbo
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: LIM-boh.
What does limbo mean?
- A speculative place or state, thought possibly to be on the edge of the bottomless pit of Hell, where the souls of innocent deceased people might exist temporarily until they can enter heaven, specifically those of the saints who died before the advent of Jesus Christ (who occupy the limbo patrum or
- Chiefly preceded by in: any in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status.“My passport application has been stuck in bureaucratic limbo for two weeks.”
- A type of antisubmarine mortar installed on naval vessels.
- A competitive dance originating from Trinidad and Tobago in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards. The bar is lowered with each round, and the competition is won by the dancer who passes under the bar in the lowest position without dislodging it or falling
- To place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status.
Where does limbo come from?
The verb is derived from the noun.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with limbo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of limbo.
Questions about saying limbo
How do you pronounce limbo?
Say LIM-boh. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɪmboʊ/. In British English it is /ˈlɪmbəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in limbo?
Limbo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIM). Broken into parts: LIM · boh.
Is limbo pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈlɪmbəʊ/ (LIM-boh).