3 syllables: bar, ba, dos. Stress on ba.
bahr-BAY-dohs
/bɑˈɹbeɪdoʊs/
barbados is pronounced bahr-BAY-dohs (/bɑˈɹbeɪdoʊs/). It has three syllables (bar-ba-dos), with the stress on "ba". Barbados is a proper noun referring to a Caribbean island nation, known for its beaches and tropical climate. It can also denote its people or products associated with the country. Pronunciation emphasizes three syllables with stress on the second: /bɑrˈbeɪ.dɒs/ in many English varieties, though local usage often reduces vowels in casual speech.
Barbados is a proper noun referring to a Caribbean island nation, known for its beaches and tropical climate. It can also denote its people or products associated with the country. Pronunciation emphasizes three syllables with stress on the second: /bɑrˈbeɪ.dɒs/ in many English varieties, though local usage often reduces vowels in casual speech.
"We vacationed in Barbados and enjoyed the pink-sand beaches."
"Barbados exports rum and sugar historically shaped its economy."
"The Barbadian cricket team played well at the tournament."
Pronounce as /bɑːrˈbeɪ.dɒs/ (US/UK alike) with primary stress on the second syllable. Start with /bɑːr/ like bar + red; then /ˈbeɪ/ as in bay; finish with /dɒs/ like dogs without the g. In careful speech, the vowels are clear: /ɑː/ in the first syllable, /eɪ/ in the second, and /ɒ/ in the final syllable. Try saying: BAR-ban style? Not quite—Bar-BAY-doss is the target. Audio reference: consult Cambridge or Oxford pronunciations for hearing the rhythm.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable, delivering /ˈbɑːrbɒdəs/ instead of /bɑːrˈbeɪ.dɒs/. (2) Flattening /beɪ/ to /be/ or /ba-/, losing the long diphthong /eɪ/. (3) Final /s/ looseness or devoicing; ensure /s/ is crisp, not /z/. Corrections: emphasize the /ˈbeɪ/ middle syllable with a slight pause after /r/; maintain /ɒ/ in the final syllable and end with a voiceless /s/. Practice with minimal pairs: bar vs bay; daze vs dose; bar-bay-doss.
In US and UK, primary stress on the second syllable /bɑːrˈbeɪ.dɒs/; both are non-rhotic accents, final r is not pronounced; /r/ is before a vowel in American but silent in many UK contexts. Australian English aligns with /bɑːˈbeɒ.dəs/ in some speakers, with a slightly more centralized final vowel and less pronounced /d/. The main differences lie in /ɒ/ vs /ɒ/ or /ə/ quality and the realization of the second syllable vowel /eɪ/ as a full diphthong in all regions, though some Australians may monophthongize /eɪ/ toward /eː/.
The difficulty comes from the three-syllable structure with a mid-stressed second syllable and a final stressed-like ending. The second syllable carries the primary stress and the /eɪ/ diphthong must be held clearly, while the final /ɒs/ or /əs/ requires crisp voiceless /s/. For non-native speakers, mastering the vowel quality differences (American /ɑː/ vs British /ɑː/), and maintaining syllable rhythm between /r/ and /beɪ/ without overemphasizing the first syllable, makes it challenging.
A common trap is inadvertently turning the diphthong /eɪ/ into a simple /e/ or /i/ sound, or flattening the final /s/ into a z-sound. Also, casual speech may reduce the vowels producing /bɑːrˈbɒs/ instead of /bɑːrˈbeɪ.dɒs/. Another pitfall is misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable; always ensure the second syllable carries emphasis. Practicing with a slow tempo helps you lock the /beɪ/ diphthong and crisp /d/ + /s/ ending.
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Barbados derives from the Portuguese term Os Barbados, historically linked to the bearded fig trees (barbada) observed by early explorers or to a ledgered Spanish usage. The name was anglicized by English settlers in the 17th century as Barbados. The term Barbados may reference the distinctive bearded fig trees encountered by early navigators; the island’s name evolved through Dutch and English colonial mapping. First confirmed English usage appears in 1625 records, and the name became fixed in British colonial administration by the mid-17th century, paralleling other Caribbean island naming patterns from Indigenous, Spanish, and Dutch interactions. Over time, the word Barba- suggests beard-like features or “barb” descriptors, though local pronunciation and spelling crystallized with English phonology, leading to its current form and pronunciation in modern usage.
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Words that rhyme with "barbados"
-dus sounds
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