How to pronounce omnibus
Say it like OM-nuh-bus. Omnibus has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce omnibus. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OM
- nuh
- bus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Omnibus pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- busKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of omnibus
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: OM-nih-bus.
What does omnibus mean?
- A bus (vehicle for transporting large numbers of people along roads).
- An anthology of previously released material linked together by theme or author, especially in book form.“This work is an omnibus containing all books in the Remembrance of Earth’s Past series.”
- A broadcast program consisting of all of the episodes of a serial that have been shown in the previous week.“The omnibus edition of The Archers is broadcast every Sunday morning at 11:00.”
- Containing multiple items.“The legislature enacted an omnibus appropriations bill.”
- Of a transportation service, calling at every station, as opposed to express; local.
- To combine (legislative bills, etc.) into a single package.
- To drive an omnibus.
- To travel or be transported by omnibus.
Where does omnibus come from?
Borrowed from French (voiture) omnibus (“(carriage) for all”), from Latin omnibus (“for all”), dative plural of omnis (“all”).
Questions about saying omnibus
How do you pronounce omnibus?
Say OM-nuh-bus. The American pronunciation is /ˈɑmnəbəs/. In British English it is /ˈɒmnɪbəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in omnibus?
Omnibus has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OM). Broken into parts: OM · nuh · bus.
Is omnibus 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 /ˈɒmnɪbəs/ (OM-nih-bus).