How to pronounce valerian
Say it like vuh-LEER-ee-un. Valerian has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce valerian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- vuh
- LEER
- ee
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Valerian pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- vuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of valerian
American and British speakers say valerian in essentially the same way: /vəˈlɪriən/ in the US and /vəˈlɪəriən/ in the UK.
British respelling: vuh-LEER-ee-un.
What does valerian mean?
- A hardy perennial flowering plant, Valeriana officinalis, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers.
- More generally, any plant of the genus Valeriana.
- The root of Valeriana officinalis, used in herbal medicine.
Words that rhyme with valerian
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of valerian.
Questions about saying valerian
How do you pronounce valerian?
Say vuh-LEER-ee-un. The American pronunciation is /vəˈlɪriən/. In British English it is /vəˈlɪəriən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in valerian?
Valerian has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEER). Broken into parts: vuh · LEER · ee · un.
Do Americans and Brits say valerian the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /vəˈlɪriən/ and the British form is /vəˈlɪəriən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.