How to pronounce somebody
Say it like SUHM-bod-ee. Somebody has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce somebody. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUHM
- bod
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Somebody pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SUHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- bodGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of somebody
American and British speakers say somebody in essentially the same way: /ˈsʌmˌbɑdi/ in the US and /ˈsʌmbədi/ in the UK.
British respelling: SUHM-buh-dee.
What does somebody mean?
- a human being“there was too much for one person to do”
Where does somebody come from?
From Middle English sum body, equivalent to some + body.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying somebody
How do you pronounce somebody?
Say SUHM-bod-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsʌmˌbɑdi/. In British English it is /ˈsʌmbədi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in somebody?
Somebody has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHM). Broken into parts: SUHM · bod · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say somebody the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsʌmˌbɑdi/ and the British form is /ˈsʌmbədi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.