How to pronounce phenobarbital
Say it like fee-noh-BAR-buh-tawl. Phenobarbital has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce phenobarbital. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- fee
- noh
- BAR
- buh
- tawl
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Phenobarbital pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- feeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- nohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- BARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tawlGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of phenobarbital
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: fee-noh-BAH-bih-tul.
What does phenobarbital mean?
- A narcotic and sedative barbiturate drug used chiefly to treat epilepsy.
Where does phenobarbital come from?
From pheno- + barbital.
Words that rhyme with phenobarbital
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of phenobarbital.
Questions about saying phenobarbital
How do you pronounce phenobarbital?
Say fee-noh-BAR-buh-tawl. The American pronunciation is /ˌfinoʊˈbɑrbəˌtɔl/. In British English it is /ˌfiːnəʊˈbɑːbɪtəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in phenobarbital?
Phenobarbital has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BAR). Broken into parts: fee · noh · BAR · buh · tawl.
Is phenobarbital pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌfiːnəʊˈbɑːbɪtəl/ (fee-noh-BAH-bih-tul).