How do you pronounce "abbreviate"?

In American English: /əˈbriːviːˌeɪt/ (uh-BREEV-ee-ayt). In British English: /əbɹˈiːvɪˌeɪt/ (uhbr-EEV-i-ayt). In Canadian English: /əˈbriːviːˌeɪt/ (uh-BREEV-ee-ayt). In Australian English: /ɐbɹˈiːvɪˌeɪt/ (ⱯBR-eev-i).

Is "abbreviate" pronounced differently in American and British English?

Yes. In American English it's pronounced /əˈbriːviːˌeɪt/ (uh-BREEV-ee-ayt), while in British English it's /əbɹˈiːvɪˌeɪt/ (uhbr-EEV-i-ayt).

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abbreviate

regional

/əˈbriːviːˌeɪt/

uh-BREEV-ee-ayt

Syllable Breakdown

əab·briːvbre·iːvi·eɪtate

Source

90%confidence📘 CMU Pronouncing Dictionary v0.7b

All Variants

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Last updated: 2026-02-12