How to pronounce rhubarb
Say it like ROO-barb. Rhubarb has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rhubarb. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROO
- barb
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rhubarb pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ROOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- barbGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of rhubarb
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: ROO-bahb.
What does rhubarb mean?
- Any plant of the genus Rheum, especially Rheum rhabarbarum, having large leaves and long green or reddish acidic leafstalks that are edible, in particular when cooked (although the leaves are mildly poisonous).
- The leafstalks of common rhubarb or garden rhubarb (usually known as Rheum × hybridum), which are long, fleshy, often pale red, and with a tart taste, used as a food ingredient; they are frequently stewed with sugar and made into jam or used in crumbles, pies, etc.
- The dried rhizome and roots of Rheum palmatum (Chinese rhubarb) or Rheum officinale (Tibetan rhubarb), from China, used as a laxative and purgative.
- Of the color of rhubarb: either brownish-yellow (the color of rhubarb rhizomes and roots used for medicinal purposes), or pale red (often the color of the leafstalks of common rhubarb).
- Of fighter aircraft: to fire at a target opportunistically.
Where does rhubarb come from?
The word is cognate with Catalan ruibarbre, Italian rabarbaro, Dutch rabarber, German Rhabarber, Old Occitan reubarbe, Portuguese ruibarbo, Spanish ruibarbo.
Questions about saying rhubarb
How do you pronounce rhubarb?
Say ROO-barb. The American pronunciation is /ˈruˌbɑrb/. In British English it is /ˈruːbɑːb/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rhubarb?
Rhubarb has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROO). Broken into parts: ROO · barb.
Is rhubarb 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 /ˈruːbɑːb/ (ROO-bahb).