How to pronounce sarcophagus
Say it like sar-KOF-uh-gus. Sarcophagus has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sarcophagus. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sar
- KOF
- uh
- gus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sarcophagus pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- sarKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- KOFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- gusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sarcophagus
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: sah-KOF-uh-gus.
What does sarcophagus mean?
- A stonen coffin, often with its exterior inscribed, or decorated with sculpture.
- The cement and steel structure that encases the destroyed nuclear reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine.
- To enclose (a corpse, etc.) in a sarcophagus (noun sense 1).
Where does sarcophagus come from?
The verb is derived from the noun.
Words that rhyme with sarcophagus
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sarcophagus.
Questions about saying sarcophagus
How do you pronounce sarcophagus?
Say sar-KOF-uh-gus. The American pronunciation is /sɑrˈkɑfəɡəs/. In British English it is /sɑːˈkɒfəɡəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sarcophagus?
Sarcophagus has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOF). Broken into parts: sar · KOF · uh · gus.
Is sarcophagus 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 /sɑːˈkɒfəɡəs/ (sah-KOF-uh-gus).