How to pronounce Serbia
Say it like SUR-bee-uh. Serbia has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Serbia. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUR
- bee
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Serbia pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- beeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Serbia
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SUR-bee-uh.
What does Serbia mean?
- A country on the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe. Official name: Republic of Serbia. Capital and largest city: Belgrade. Part of Yugoslavia until 1992, then part of Serbia and Montenegro until 2006.
- A geographic region of Southeastern Europe.
Where does Serbia come from?
Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin Serbia.
Words that rhyme with Serbia
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Serbia.
Questions about saying Serbia
How do you pronounce Serbia?
Say SUR-bee-uh. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɝbiə/. In British English it is /ˈsɜːbiə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Serbia?
Serbia has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUR). Broken into parts: SUR · bee · uh.
Is Serbia 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 /ˈsɜːbiə/ (SUR-bee-uh).