How to pronounce ruminant
Say it like ROO-muh-nunt. Ruminant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROO).
- ROO
- muh
- nunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ruminant 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.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nuntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of ruminant
American and British speakers say ruminant in essentially the same way: /ˈrumənənt/ in the US and /ˈruːmɪnənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: ROO-mih-nunt.
What does ruminant mean?
- Chewing cud.
- Pondering; ruminative.
- Any artiodactyl ungulate mammal which chews cud in the suborder Ruminantia, such as cattle or deer.
Where does ruminant come from?
From Latin rūmināns, rūminantem, present participle of rūminārī (“to chew the cud, ruminate”), from rūmen (“throat, gullet, rumen (first stomach of a ruminant)”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
- nonruminant
Questions about saying ruminant
How do you pronounce ruminant?
Say ROO-muh-nunt. The American pronunciation is /ˈrumənənt/. In British English it is /ˈruːmɪnənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ruminant?
Ruminant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROO). Broken into parts: ROO · muh · nunt.
Do Americans and Brits say ruminant the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrumənənt/ and the British form is /ˈruːmɪnənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.