How to pronounce rutabaga
Say it like ROO-tuh-bay-guh. Rutabaga has four 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 rutabaga. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROO
- tuh
- bay
- guh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rutabaga 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.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- bayGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- guhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of rutabaga
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: ROO-tuh-bay-guh.
What does rutabaga mean?
- The swede, or Swedish turnip; the European plant Brassica napus var. napobrassica
- The edible root of this plant
Where does rutabaga come from?
First attested in 1799, borrowed from Swedish rotabagge, a dialectal word from Västergötland, from rot (“root”) + bagge (“lump, bunch”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying rutabaga
How do you pronounce rutabaga?
Say ROO-tuh-bay-guh. The American pronunciation is /ˈrutəˌbeɪɡə/. In British English it is /ˈruːtəˌbeɪɡə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rutabaga?
Rutabaga has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROO). Broken into parts: ROO · tuh · bay · guh.
Is rutabaga pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈruːtəˌbeɪɡə/ (ROO-tuh-bay-guh).