How to pronounce rhinoceros
Say it like ry-NOS-uh-rus. Rhinoceros has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NOS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rhinoceros. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ry
- NOS
- uh
- rus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rhinoceros pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ryKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- NOSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of rhinoceros
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: ry-NOS-uh-rus.
What does rhinoceros mean?
- Any large herbivorous ungulate mammal native to Africa and Asia of the family Rhinocerotidae, with thick, gray skin and one or two horns on their snouts.
- An ungulate mammal of the superfamily Rhinocerotoidea, including the hornless Paraceratherium.
Questions about saying rhinoceros
How do you pronounce rhinoceros?
Say ry-NOS-uh-rus. The American pronunciation is /raɪˈnɑsərəs/. In British English it is /raɪˈnɒsərəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rhinoceros?
Rhinoceros has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NOS). Broken into parts: ry · NOS · uh · rus.
Is rhinoceros 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 /raɪˈnɒsərəs/ (ry-NOS-uh-rus).