How to pronounce verboten
Say it like fer-BOH-tun. Verboten has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce verboten. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- fer
- BOH
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Verboten pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ferGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- BOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of verboten
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: vuh-BOH-tun.
What does verboten mean?
- (Strictly) forbidden or prohibited.
Where does verboten come from?
Unadapted borrowing from German verboten (“banned, forbidden, prohibited”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with verboten
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of verboten.
Questions about saying verboten
How do you pronounce verboten?
Say fer-BOH-tun. The American pronunciation is /ˌfərˈboʊtən/. In British English it is /ˌvəˈbəʊtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in verboten?
Verboten has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BOH). Broken into parts: fer · BOH · tun.
Is verboten 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 /ˌvəˈbəʊtən/ (vuh-BOH-tun).