English pronunciation · Words Starting with A

Aboriginal Pronunciation

Aboriginal is pronounced a-ber-I-juh-nuhl, IPA /ˌæbɝˈɪdʒənəl/.

a-ber-I-juh-nuhl

US /ˌæbɝˈɪdʒənəl/  ·  UK /ˌæbəˈrɪdʒɪnəl/

Syllables: a · ber · I · juh · nuhl (5 syllables, stress on syllable 3)

adjective and noun: Relating to the original inhabitants of a place, and in Australia used of Aboriginal peoples and their cultures.

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Aboriginal in a Sentence

  • The gallery holds a large collection of Aboriginal art.
  • Aboriginal languages once numbered in the hundreds.
  • These plants were an aboriginal food source across the region.

Common Mispronunciations of Aboriginal

Not a-buh-RY-juh-nuhl

The stressed vowel is a short i, as in ridge. The long eye sound belongs to a different family of words.

Not A-buh-ri-juh-nuhl

The RI in the middle is the loud one, and leading with a heavy opener flattens the whole rhythm.

Tip: In Australia, Aboriginal takes a capital letter and Aborigine is now avoided in favour of Aboriginal people or First Nations people.

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