How to pronounce autobus
Say it like AW-toh-buhs. Autobus has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce autobus. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AW
- toh
- buhs
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Autobus pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- tohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- buhsGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of autobus
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: AW-toh-bus.
What does autobus mean?
- A motorbus, as opposed to earlier horse-drawn buses.
- A large group of cyclists who have fallen behind the peloton (“main group of riders”) in a race.
Where does autobus come from?
From auto- (prefix meaning ‘self’, in the sense of being self-propelled) + bus.
Questions about saying autobus
How do you pronounce autobus?
Say AW-toh-buhs. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔtoʊˌbʌs/. In British English it is /ˈɔːtəʊbʌs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in autobus?
Autobus has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AW). Broken into parts: AW · toh · buhs.
Is autobus pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈɔːtəʊbʌs/ (AW-toh-bus).