How to pronounce rabies
Say it like RAY-beez. Rabies has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rabies. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RAY
- beez
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rabies pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- beezKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of rabies
American and British speakers say rabies in essentially the same way: /ˈreɪbiz/ in the US and /ˈreɪbiz/ in the UK.
British respelling: RAY-beez.
What does rabies mean?
- An infectious disease caused by species of Lyssavirus that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals and people, characterized by abnormal behavior such as biting, excitement, aggressiveness, and dementia, followed by paralysis and death.
Where does rabies come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin rabiēs (“rage, madness, fury”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with rabies
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rabies.
Questions about saying rabies
How do you pronounce rabies?
Say RAY-beez. The American pronunciation is /ˈreɪbiz/. In British English it is /ˈreɪbiz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rabies?
Rabies has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAY). Broken into parts: RAY · beez.
Do Americans and Brits say rabies the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈreɪbiz/ and the British form is /ˈreɪbiz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.