How to pronounce proverbial
Say it like pruh-VUR-bee-ul. Proverbial has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce proverbial. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pruh
- VUR
- bee
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Proverbial pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- beeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of proverbial
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: pruh-VURR-bee-ul.
What does proverbial mean?
- Of, resembling, or expressed as a proverb, cliché, fable, or fairy tale.“The busyness of a beaver is proverbial.”
- Optionally placed before an element of a well-known proverb or metaphor to emphasize that the element is not being used in a literal sense (see Usage notes below)“the proverbial smoking gun”
- Widely known; famous; stereotypical.“I grew up in a prefab house on Main Street in 1950s suburbia, the second and last child of a proverbial nuclear family.”
- Used to replace a word that might be considered unacceptable in a particular situation, when using a well-known phrase.“I think we should be prepared in case the proverbial hits the fan.”
Where does proverbial come from?
From Latin prōverbiālis, equivalent to proverb + -ial
Words that rhyme with proverbial
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of proverbial.
Questions about saying proverbial
How do you pronounce proverbial?
Say pruh-VUR-bee-ul. The American pronunciation is /prəˈvɝbiəl/. In British English it is /prəˈvɝrbiːəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in proverbial?
Proverbial has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VUR). Broken into parts: pruh · VUR · bee · ul.
Is proverbial 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 /prəˈvɝrbiːəl/ (pruh-VURR-bee-ul).