How to pronounce suburb
Say it like SUHB-erb. Suburb has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce suburb. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUHB
- erb
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Suburb pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SUHBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- erbKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of suburb
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SUHB-urb.
What does suburb mean?
- a residential district located on the outskirts of a city
Where does suburb come from?
From Old French suburbe, subburbe, from Latin suburbium (from sub- (“under-”) + urbs (“city”)).
Questions about saying suburb
How do you pronounce suburb?
Say SUHB-erb. The American pronunciation is /ˈsʌbɚb/. In British English it is /ˈsʌbɜːb/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in suburb?
Suburb has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHB). Broken into parts: SUHB · erb.
Is suburb 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 /ˈsʌbɜːb/ (SUHB-urb).