3 syllables: am, bu, lance. Stress on am.
AM-byuh-luhns
/ˈæmbjələns/
ambulance is pronounced AM-byuh-luhns (/ˈæmbjələns/). It has three syllables (am-bu-lance), with the stress on "am". Ambulance is a vehicle equipped for emergency medical transport, designed to respond quickly to incidents and provide medical care en route to a hospital. The word contains a light, clipped stress pattern and predictable phoneme sequence, making clear enunciation key for timely recognition in noisy settings.
Ambulance is a vehicle equipped for emergency medical transport, designed to respond quickly to incidents and provide medical care en route to a hospital. The word contains a light, clipped stress pattern and predictable phoneme sequence, making clear enunciation key for timely recognition in noisy settings.
"The ambulance arrived at the scene within minutes, siren wailing."
" paramedics loaded the patient into the ambulance and expedited to the hospital."
"She flagged down an ambulance after the accident and described her symptoms to the operator."
Pronounce as /ˈæm.bjə.ləns/ in US/UK/AU. The primary stress is on the first syllable. Break it into three beats: AM- BYU- LANS, with the middle syllable reduced to a schwa. The key is the /bj/ cluster in the second syllable, which should blend smoothly rather than separate. Audio resources like Pronounce or Forvo provide native recordings for confirmation.
Common errors include overpronouncing the middle syllable, saying AM-bu-lANEZ or AM-byoo-lence; another is misplacing stress as am-BU-lance. To correct: keep stress on the first syllable, render the second as /bjə/ (not /byu/ or /bjən/), and end with /ləns/ rather than /lance/. Practice saying /ˈæm.bjə.ləns/ slowly, then speed up while maintaining the schwa in the second syllable.
Across US/UK/AU, the core IPA /ˈæm.bjə.ləns/ stays similar, but rhoticity affects the r-coloring in neighboring words rather than the word itself. The United States tends to have a slightly clearer /ə/ in the second syllable and a crisper /l/ before the final /əns/. In UK usage, you’ll still hear /ˈæmb.jə.ləns/ with a lighter vowel in the second syllable. Australian English mirrors US tendencies but can reduce the middle vowel a touch more in fast speech.
The difficulty stems from the consonant cluster /mbj/ in the second syllable and the schwa in the second syllable; many speakers blend /m/ and /b/ and there’s a quick leap to /ləns/ at the end, which risks truncation or mispronunciation. Maintaining the /ˈæm/ onset, producing /bjə/ as a smooth blend, and finishing with /ləns/ requires controlled timing and mouth positioning; practicing with slow tempo helps solidify the sequence. IPA helps you pinpoint each gesture.
One unique aspect is the /bj/ consonant blend in the second syllable, which can be articulated as a light palatal approximant followed by a schwa. Focus on keeping the middle vowel short and the final /ə/ unstressed before the /l/ and /s/. Using a short, quick /ə/ helps avoid drawing out the middle syllable, preserving the crisp, emergency-communication sound.
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Ambulance derives from the Latin word ambulatorius, meaning ‘for walking’ or ‘to walk’, from ambulus ‘walking’. The modern term entered English via French ambulance and Italian ambulanze, all referencing things that move or carry people. Historically, ambulances were not enclosed vehicles but stretchers borne by attendants; by the 18th and 19th centuries, ambulance wagons and later motorized ambulances became standard in military and civilian contexts. The word’s sense broadened from “a thing used to walk” to the vehicle used to transport patients urgently. First attested senses in English date to the 19th century in military medical services, with the current common pronunciation stabilizing through widespread use in emergency services across English-speaking regions by mid-20th century. The term’s spelling aligns with related medical transport terms in Romance-derived languages, reflecting its medical and mobility functions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "ambulance" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "ambulance" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "ambulance"
-nce sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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