How to Pronounce “embarrass”

British (UK)

/ɪmˈbæɹəs/

verb — To make someone feel awkward or self-conscious.

Example: The question was designed to embarrass him.

Synonyms: humiliate, fluster

Where the stress falls. “embarrass” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ɪmˈbæɹəs/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ɪmˈbæɹəs/ 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 "embarrass" mean?

embarrass (verb): To make someone feel awkward or self-conscious. For example — The question was designed to embarrass him.

Which syllable is stressed in "embarrass"?

“embarrass” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ɪmˈbæɹəs/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.