English pronunciation · Words Starting with F
Forbidden Pronunciation
Forbidden is pronounced FAWR-bi-duhn, IPA /ˈfɔrbɪdən/.
FAWR-bi-duhn
US /ˈfɔrbɪdən/ · UK /fəˈbɪdən/
Syllables: FAWR · bi · duhn (3 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
adjective; also verb (past participle of forbid): Not allowed, by rule or by law.
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Two Ways to Say Forbidden
The pronunciation changes with the meaning or the part of speech. The form above is the most common; the others are:
- fer-BI-duhn, the reading nearly everyone uses: /fɝrˈbɪdən/ (ferr-BI-duhn)
Forbidden in a Sentence
- Smoking is forbidden on the platform.
- The forbidden shelf held the exam papers.
- It is forbidden to park here between eight and six.
Common Mispronunciations of Forbidden
Not fawr-BI-den
The last beat is a weak duhn with no full e in it.
Not fuh-BID
That ending has to be heard, light as it is, or you are left with forbid.
Tip: Almost everyone says fer-BI-duhn, with the weight in the middle, and the dictionaries list a front-stressed FAWR-bi-duhn as well.
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