How to pronounce riverbed
Say it like RIV-er-bed. Riverbed has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RIV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce riverbed. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RIV
- er
- bed
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Riverbed pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RIVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- bedGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of riverbed
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: RIV-uh-bed.
What does riverbed mean?
- The path where a river runs, or where a river once ran; the bottom earthen part of a river, not including the riverbanks.
Where does riverbed come from?
From river + bed. Compare Dutch rivierbedding (“riverbed”), German Flussbett (“riverbed”), Swedish flodbädd (“riverbed”).
Questions about saying riverbed
How do you pronounce riverbed?
Say RIV-er-bed. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɪvɚˌbɛd/. In British English it is /ˈrɪvəˌbɛd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in riverbed?
Riverbed has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RIV). Broken into parts: RIV · er · bed.
Is riverbed 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 /ˈrɪvəˌbɛd/ (RIV-uh-bed).