How to pronounce obsidian
Say it like ub-SID-ee-un. Obsidian has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SID).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce obsidian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ub
- SID
- ee
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Obsidian pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ubKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- SIDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of obsidian
American and British speakers say obsidian in essentially the same way: /əbˈsɪdiən/ in the US and /ˌɒbˈsɪdiən/ in the UK.
British respelling: ob-SID-ee-un.
What does obsidian mean?
- A type of naturally occurring black glass produced by volcanoes.
- A slightly bluish black, the color of obsidian glass.
- Black.
Where does obsidian come from?
From Latin obsidianus; named after Obsidius, who was, according to Pliny, the Roman who discovered the stone in Aethiopia.
Words that rhyme with obsidian
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of obsidian.
Questions about saying obsidian
How do you pronounce obsidian?
Say ub-SID-ee-un. The American pronunciation is /əbˈsɪdiən/. In British English it is /ˌɒbˈsɪdiən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in obsidian?
Obsidian has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SID). Broken into parts: ub · SID · ee · un.
Do Americans and Brits say obsidian the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əbˈsɪdiən/ and the British form is /ˌɒbˈsɪdiən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.