How to pronounce backbone
Say it like BAK-bohn. Backbone has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce backbone. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAK
- bohn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Backbone pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- bohnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of backbone
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BAK-bohn.
What does backbone mean?
- a central cohesive source of support and stability“faith is his anchor”“the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money”
- fortitude and determination“he didn't have the guts to try it”
- the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord“the fall broke his back”
Where does backbone come from?
From Middle English bakbon, bakebon, bac-bon; equivalent to back + bone.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying backbone
How do you pronounce backbone?
Say BAK-bohn. The American pronunciation is /ˈbækˌboʊn/. In British English it is /ˈbækˌbəʊn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in backbone?
Backbone has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAK). Broken into parts: BAK · bohn.
Is backbone 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 /ˈbækˌbəʊn/ (BAK-bohn).