3 syllables: Ger, be, ra. Stress on be.
jur-BUR-uh
/dʒɝˈbɚə/
Gerbera is pronounced jur-BUR-uh (/dʒɝˈbɚə/). It has three syllables (Ger-be-ra), with the stress on "be". Gerbera is a perennial flowering plant of the daisy family, known for large, bright composite heads and bold petals. The term also refers to the genus that includes many ornamental species commonly cultivated in gardens and arrangements. In everyday use, it denotes the flower itself rather than any species-level botanical term, and is often encountered in horticulture, floristry, and decorative contexts.
nounGerbera is a perennial flowering plant of the daisy family, known for large, bright composite heads and bold petals. The term also refers to the genus that includes many ornamental species commonly cultivated in gardens and arrangements. In everyday use, it denotes the flower itself rather than any species-level botanical term, and is often encountered in horticulture, floristry, and decorative contexts.
"I bought a vibrant Gerbera to brighten up the living room."
"The bouquet featured Gerberas in shades of pink and orange."
"Her garden is full of Gerberas, alternating with tulips."
You pronounce it as /dʒərˈbɛr.ə/ in US and /dʒəˈbɜː.rə/ in UK, with the main stress on the second syllable: gehr-BE-rə. Start with the /dʒ/ sound as in judge, then a schwa-like /ə/ in the first syllable, followed by a clear /b/ and the stressed /ɛ/ vowel in the second syllable, finishing with /rə/ or /rə/. Listening to native floristry videos can help solidify the three-beat rhythm.
Common errors include misplacing stress (trying to stress the first syllable) and mispronouncing the middle vowel as /eɪ/ or /iː/ instead of /ɛ/ in the BEAR-sound. Another frequent slip is slurring the final /ə/ into /ɪ/ or /ʊ/. To correct: place primary stress on the second syllable /ˈbɛr/ and pronounce the ending as a light /ə/; keep the initial /dʒ/ and avoid turning /r/ into a tapped or rolled variant in rapid speech.
In US English, you’ll hear /dʒərˈbɜr.ə/ or /dʒərˈber.ə/ with a rhotic /r/ and a schwa or reduced vowel in the first syllable. UK English tends toward /dʒəˈbɜː.rə/ with a longer, non-rhotic mid- to back vowel in the first syllable and a clearer /ɜː/ in the second syllable. Australian English is similar to UK but may be slightly more clipped; expect /dʒəˈbɜː.rə/ with stable /ɜː/ and a light rhotic release. Maintain the stress on the second syllable in all variants.
The difficulty arises from the three-syllable structure with a mid-stressed second syllable and the mix of consonants /dʒ/ and /r/ together. Many speak with a reduced initial syllable (/dʒər/ becomes more like /dʒər/), and the /ɜː/ vs /ɛ/ distinction in the stressed syllable can be subtle across accents. Additionally, the final /ə/ can reduce to a schwa or be pronounced lightly, making the word lean toward faster speech without clear clarity.
Yes. The R-controlled vowel in the stressed second syllable can vary between /bɛr/ and /bɜːr/ depending on accent, and the trailing /ə/ is often subtle and underemphasized. The combination /rˈ/ after /b/ can invite American speakers to momentarily 'trap' the r, while others keep a smoother rhotic flow. Focusing on the /ɜː/ or /ɛ/ distinction in the second syllable and maintaining a crisp /ə/ at the end distinguishes accurate pronunciation across contexts.
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Gerbera derives from the surname of German naturalist Robertensieger? No, correction: It is named after German botanist Traugott Gerber, who described the flower in the 18th century; the genus Gerbera was established by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, but the formal naming attributed to German botanists Fr. von Schlechtendal who named the genus Gerbera in honor of German botanist Traugott Gerber (1771–1871). The species within the genus were later classified by various gardeners and botanists as ornamental daisies with prominent ray florets. The word entered English usage in the 19th century as horticultural terminology, aligning with other genera in the aster family. Its meaning has remained stable: a distinctive daisy-like flower, typically large, with a central disk and showy rays. First known use in print appears in botanical catalogs and floristry references in the mid-1800s, with popularization through garden cultivation and florist trade by the late 19th to early 20th century.
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Words that rhyme with "Gerbera"
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