3 syllables: Bar, bar, ous. Stress on Bar.
BAHR-bur-uhs
/ˈbɑɹ.bɚ.əs/
Barbarous is pronounced BAHR-bur-uhs (/ˈbɑɹ.bɚ.əs/). It has three syllables (Bar-bar-ous), with the stress on "Bar". Barbarous is an adjective describing something savagely cruel or uncivilized, or characteristic of barbarians. It often carries a formal or literary tone and can refer to behavior, conduct, or methods that are rough, brutal, or lacking refinement. The word emphasizes harshness or lack of culture, sometimes used to critique actions or institutions.
adjectiveBarbarous is an adjective describing something savagely cruel or uncivilized, or characteristic of barbarians. It often carries a formal or literary tone and can refer to behavior, conduct, or methods that are rough, brutal, or lacking refinement. The word emphasizes harshness or lack of culture, sometimes used to critique actions or institutions.
"The expedition faced barbarous conditions in the frozen north."
"His barbarous treatment of the prisoners drew immediate condemnation."
"Legislation was introduced to curb barbarous practices in the industry."
Barbarous is pronounced with three syllables: /ˈbɑːr.bə.rəs/ in US and UK dictionaries, and /ˈbɑː.bə.rəs/ in Australian varieties. The primary stress sits on the first syllable. Start with a clear /b/ followed by an open back vowel /ɑː/ like in 'bar,' then a light schwa /ə/ in the second syllable, and finish with an unstressed /rəs/ cluster. Listen for the final -ous as a light, reduced /əs/. Audio reference: [pronunciation resources like Cambridge or Oxford audio].
Common errors include flattening the first vowel to a lax /æ/ as in 'bat' (you should use the broad /ɑː/ as in 'bar'), pronouncing the second syllable with full vowel instead of a reduced /ə/, and over-articulating the final -ous as /əs/ with heavy emphasis. To fix: keep the first syllable long and open (/ˈbɑːr/), reduce the middle to /bə/ (like ‘buh’), and release the final /rəs/ quickly without adding extra vowel weight.
US and UK share similar primary stress on the first syllable with /ˈbɑːr.bə.rəs/. US might pronounce the final /r/ more clearly in rhotic fashion, while UK non-rhotic accents may have a weaker or linked /r/ before a following consonant and slightly different vowel quality on /ɑː/. Australian tends to be rhotic but with a broader /ɒ/–/ɑː/ split in some speakers, and the final /ə/ and /r/ can be softer. Across all, the key is keeping the /ˈbɑːr/ stable, then a schwa, then a reduced ending.
The difficulty lies in the triplet rhythm and the reduced final syllable. You must maintain a long first vowel without drawing out the second syllable, then compact the final /rəs/ into a quick, light ending. Speakers often over-emphasize or mispronounce the middle /bə/ by not reducing it, or they tense the final /əs/ too much. Practicing with minimal pairs helps you keep the right rhythm and the correct tongue relaxation for the final syllable.
Barbarous maintains the retroflex-ish quality of the /r/ in American and many UK varieties when followed by /b/ in /ˈbɑːr.bə.rəs/. The second syllable uses a mid-central vowel /ə/ rather than a full vowel, and the final /əs/ is a weak, unstressed ending. The word’s cadence makes it feel formal or literary, so keep it crisp on the first syllable and light on the final, avoiding an extra peak on the middle syllable.
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Barbarous comes from the French/barbarous, ultimately from Latin barbarus meaning ‘foreign, strange, non-Greek/Latin’ and by extension ‘barbarian, savage.’ The root evokes the idea of “barbar” sounds attributed to foreign speech in ancient Greece (non-Greek languages were said to sound like ‘bar-bar-bar’). In English, barbarous evolved in Middle English from barbarous, borrowed via Old French barbarous (Barbare), retaining sense of crude or brutal behavior. Over time, it broadened from denoting foreignness or uncultured manners to describe actions, practices, or people marked by cruelty or barbarity. In 16th–18th centuries, the word often carried moral judgment in literary and religious contexts, and while still formal, it appears in general prose for emphasis on brutal or uncultured characteristics. First known uses appear in medieval and early modern texts, reflecting evolving attitudes toward civilization and other cultures—where “barbarous” signaled contrast with refined, classical standards. The sense sharpened around behavior and methods considered uncivilized rather than mere foreign origin, contributing to its enduring critical nuance in modern usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Barbarous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Barbarous"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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