I usually say kuh-RIB-bee-un, but in some contexts it seems to feel better the other way, like “Pirates of the care-a-BEE-un”. How do you say it, and where are you from? I’m from the Mountain West region of the USA.
Aw man. Wish I would have read the OP before I voted. But your example is the only time I pronounce it that way.
I’m from nowhere near that particular body of water, and some how I learned to pronounce it care-a-BEE-un which was how it was taught in the schools I attended.
I seriously doubt that I will change the way I pronounce it no matter what the experts say. And I am curious to hear what those experts will say on this thread. 
Care-a-BEE-un. Chicago.
Same here. Well, Chicago is where I learned to talk, anyway.
I never thought about it before, but when given the choices I realized I pronounce it car-RIB-ean when talking about food, and car-uh-BE-an when talking about geography. Huh.
Edit…I, too, learned most of my <spoken> language in the Chicago area.
Rhymes with Namibian.
My first encounter with it is the Disneyland Ride (and subsequent movie franchise) so I grew up saying car-a Bee-un. For some reason I pronounce it ca- Rib- bee -an if I’m referring to a cruise or resort.
How I say things isn’t dependent on context or such things, things just roll out of my mouth. I do constantly wonder if I say things incorrectly, like this word. I have said it both ways and immediately afterwards wonder if I said it wrong. Thanks for quelling my fears a bit.
I used to pronounce it the first way. Then those Johnny Depp movies came out, and I started pronouncing it the second way. Growing up in West Texas, I’m not sure I ever heard the word except on TV or in the movies.
I had always assumed the “ca- Rib- bee -an” way was American, interesting to read that isn’t always so.
Being British, I pronounce it the pirate way, obviously. Ooh aar me hearties.
Kah-rib-EE-un.
From the UK if that makes any difference.
Stars with a definite Kah, not Care.
CaRIBbyan, when used as a noun meaning the name of the Sea.
HOWEVER…
(a) I am from Puerto Rico (which is in the region) and learned it originally in Spanish, in which the Sea’s name is “Mar Ca**-RI-**be” so that influences my pronunciation greatly.
(b) When used as an adjective referring to the foods, wildlife, modern-day peoples, etc., the term in Spanish is “ca-ri-BE-ño" which corresponds to "caribBEan”.
© The aboriginal peoples (Karifuna/Galibi/Kalinya/etc) who gave their name to the Sea, in Spanish are known as the “CaRIbes” and our word describing their language and customs is ALSO “CaRIbe”; but in English they are the “CA-rib”.
So it seems like in English it’s interchangeable.
care-a-BEE-un as a noun.
kuh-RIB-bee-un as an adjective.
(Most of the time.)
Example: I would like to visit the care-a-BEE-un on kuh-RIB-bee-un Cruise Lines.
Varies according the the amount of rum imbibed. So it could be Cari-me’ome…
CARRY-bee-un
When I was little, I pronounced it care-uh-BEE-an. Somewhere along the way after I grew up, I started pronouncing it kah-RIB-ee-an, and that’s pretty much the only way I pronounce it now. Even the movie or the Disney ride.
If any experts stop by, I’m sure they’ll say that either one is correct.
Carrabeeyan
And I’m British.
Me too, though maybe a bit more Carri (short i) than Carra - and I’d also always thought the CaRIBbean pronunciation was American. Interesting.