How do you say Caribbean?
 

A) Care-ib-be-an
B) Ca-rib-be-an

I am a proponent of A) as in the Pirates of the Care-ib-be-an.

I used to use B because that's what I heard most locals say on my first visits to the region. After I visited more islands I started hearing both pronunciations. Now I use both pronunciations pretty equally.

A) Generally US pronunciation
B) British pronunciation

Preferred is cahr-ib-be'-an.
Sounds are softer and smoother in the islands than most of the english language. Accent is on 3rd syllable, and the "a" in the 1st syllable is broad.

I asked "how do YOU pronounce". I find both used equally....not really knowing if one is correct moreso than the other. x, you leave me confused.

x: so you would pick B, if i am reading your reference correct. When I lived in the Caribbean, I found A to be the most widely used.

I generally use the A pronunciation, but every now and then I catch myself saying it the other way too for some reason. I also have a serious mental block for pronouncing Cay correctly. I want to pronounce it as I see it, not "key".

I have used both before but Care-ib-be-an more so than Ca-rib-be-an.

I remember hearing somewhere that the correct pronouncation is Care-ib-be-an to the people who live in the Caribbean.:)

Good topic....I always hear people pronouning it both ways.

Christie

excuse my typo *pronouncing*

Clarification--I use "A" but with the letter a in the first syllable broader (Cahr), and accent on the 3rd syllable. It is also the dictionary's preferred pronunciation, as well as islanders for the most part. The "B" version accents the 2nd syllable.

This is a good question for an insomniac. For me, I use both but I seem to use them as follows:
A)as a noun "Welcome to the Care-ib-be-an."
B)as an adjective "Caribbean culture"

I have mostly heard B in my local region, so that is what I use. Prior to moving to the Caribbean I used both.

Caribbean came from the "Carib" indians. however, most people from the caribbean tend to pronounce it as one long word...as B)? I suppose.
At least on my island.