How to pronounce backness
Say it like BAK-nis. Backness 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 backness. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAK
- nis
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Backness 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.
- nisKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of backness
American and British speakers say backness in essentially the same way: /ˈbæknɪs/ in the US and /ˈbæknɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAK-nis.
What does backness mean?
- Quality of being a back vowel.
- A quality of vowels, indicating the horizontal position of the tongue relative to the back of the mouth (front, near-front, central, near-back, or back).
Where does backness come from?
From back + -ness.
Questions about saying backness
How do you pronounce backness?
Say BAK-nis. The American pronunciation is /ˈbæknɪs/. In British English it is /ˈbæknɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in backness?
Backness has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAK). Broken into parts: BAK · nis.
Do Americans and Brits say backness the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbæknɪs/ and the British form is /ˈbæknɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.