# How do you pronounce "Caribbean"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 1, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812 "2011-09-01T01:41:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/1 "2011-09-01T01:41:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/2 "2011-09-01T01:56:23Z")
Aw man. Wish I would have read the OP before I voted. But your example is the only time I pronounce it that way. ---
**Author:** ![JoThrive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@JoThrive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoThrive)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/3 "2011-09-01T02:15:18Z")
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. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/4 "2011-09-01T02:24:08Z")
Care-a-BEE-un. Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/5 "2011-09-01T02:27:13Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > Care-a-BEE-un. Chicago. Same here. Well, Chicago is where I learned to talk, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/6 "2011-09-01T02:33:39Z")
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 \ language in the Chicago area. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/7 "2011-09-01T02:46:05Z")
Rhymes with Namibian. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/8 "2011-09-01T03:48:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![VitrolicBump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a587f6/32.png) [@VitrolicBump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VitrolicBump)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/9 "2011-09-01T04:12:26Z")
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. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/10 "2011-09-01T04:17:32Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/11 "2011-09-01T11:56:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/12 "2011-09-01T12:03:33Z")
Kah-rib- **EE** -un. From the UK if that makes any difference. Stars with a definite Kah, not Care. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/13 "2011-09-01T12:40:40Z")
Ca **RIB** byan, 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 "caribBE** an”. © The aboriginal peoples (Karifuna/Galibi/Kalinya/etc) who gave their name to the Sea, in Spanish are known as the “Ca **RI** bes” 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. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/14 "2011-09-01T12:43:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Bordesley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@Bordesley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bordesley)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/15 "2011-09-01T12:59:16Z")
Varies according the the amount of rum imbibed. So it could be Cari-me’ome… ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/16 "2011-09-01T13:33:23Z")
CARRY-bee-un ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/17 "2011-09-01T13:35:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/18 "2011-09-01T14:23:40Z")
> [@JoThrive](#): > > 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. 🙂 If any experts stop by, I’m sure they’ll say that either one is correct. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/19 "2011-09-01T14:26:23Z")
Carra_ **bee** _yan And I’m British. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812/20 "2011-09-01T14:35:43Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Carra_ **bee** _yan > > 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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-caribbean/594812.md?page=2)