How to pronounce spikenard
Say it like SPYKE-nard. Spikenard has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPYKE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce spikenard. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPYKE
- nard
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spikenard pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPYKESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- nardKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of spikenard
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SPYKE-nahd.
What does spikenard mean?
- A perfumed ointment, extracted from the plant Nardostachys jatamansi that belongs to the Valerian family and grows in the Himalayas.
- The plant Nardostachys jatamansi (syn. Nardostachys grandiflora).
- Lavandula stoechas, another species used in antiquity to produce an aromatic oil.
Where does spikenard come from?
From Middle English spikenard, spikenarde, from Anglo-Norman spicanarde, from Medieval Latin spīca nardī, from Latin spica (“spike”) + nardi (“nard”).
Questions about saying spikenard
How do you pronounce spikenard?
Say SPYKE-nard. The American pronunciation is /ˈspaɪknɑrd/. In British English it is /ˈspaɪknɑːd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spikenard?
Spikenard has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPYKE). Broken into parts: SPYKE · nard.
Is spikenard 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 /ˈspaɪknɑːd/ (SPYKE-nahd).