How to pronounce nab
Say it like NAB. Nab 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 nab. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NAB
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nab pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NABSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of nab
American and British speakers say nab in essentially the same way: /næb/ in the US and /næb/ in the UK.
British respelling: NAB.
What does nab mean?
- To seize, arrest or take into custody (a criminal or fugitive).
- To grab or snatch something.
- The summit of a hill.
- The cock of a gunlock.
- The keeper, or box into which the lock is shot.
Where does nab come from?
Related to Danish nappe (“to tweak, snatch at, catch, seize”), Swedish nappa (“to take, grab, pinch”), Norwegian Bokmål nappe (“to grab, snatch, pluck, yank”).
Words that rhyme with nab
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nab.
Questions about saying nab
How do you pronounce nab?
Say NAB. The American pronunciation is /næb/. In British English it is /næb/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nab?
Nab is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NAB.
Do Americans and Brits say nab the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /næb/ and the British form is /næb/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.