How to Pronounce “Airbnb”

American (US)

/ˌɛəɹˌbiːɛnˈbiː/

British (UK)

/ˌɛəɹˌbiːɛnˈbiː/

proper noun — An online vacation rental marketplace, operated by Airbnb, Inc.

Where the stress falls. “Airbnb” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˌɛəɹˌbiːɛnˈbiː/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the fourth one — so the fourth syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌɛəɹˌbiːɛnˈbiː/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "Airbnb" mean?

Airbnb (proper noun): An online vacation rental marketplace, operated by Airbnb, Inc.

How do you pronounce "Airbnb" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "Airbnb", /ˌɛəɹˌbiːɛnˈbiː/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "Airbnb"?

/ˌɛəɹˌbiːɛnˈbiː/ in American English, /ˌɛəɹˌbiːɛnˈbiː/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "Airbnb"?

“Airbnb” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˌɛəɹˌbiːɛnˈbiː/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the fourth one — so the fourth syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.