How to pronounce ruby
Say it like ROO-bee. Ruby 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 ruby. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROO
- bee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ruby 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.
- beeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of ruby
American and British speakers say ruby in essentially the same way: /ˈrubi/ in the US and /ˈruːbi/ in the UK.
British respelling: ROO-bee.
What does ruby mean?
- a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
- a transparent deep red variety of corundum; used as a gemstone and in lasers
- a deep and vivid red color
- of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
Where does ruby come from?
Etymology 1 sense 7 (“pronunciation guide”) is from the British 5½-point type size (etymology 1 sense 6), used for annotations in printed documents.
Words that rhyme with ruby
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ruby.
Questions about saying ruby
How do you pronounce ruby?
Say ROO-bee. The American pronunciation is /ˈrubi/. In British English it is /ˈruːbi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ruby?
Ruby has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROO). Broken into parts: ROO · bee.
Do Americans and Brits say ruby the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrubi/ and the British form is /ˈruːbi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.