How do you pronounce "taboo"?

In American English: /tæˈbuː/ (ta-BOO). In British English: /təbˈuː/ (tuhb-OO). In Canadian English: /tæˈbuː/ (ta-BOO). In Australian English: /tabˈuː/ (TAB).

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

Yes. In American English it's pronounced /tæˈbuː/ (ta-BOO), while in British English it's /təbˈuː/ (tuhb-OO).

How to Pronounce "taboo"

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taboo

regional

/tæˈbuː/

ta-BOO

Syllable Breakdown

tæta·buːboo

Source

90%confidence📘 CMU Pronouncing Dictionary v0.7b

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Last updated: 2026-02-14