How to pronounce backstory
Say it like BAKS-tor-ee. Backstory has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAKS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce backstory. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAKS
- tor
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Backstory pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BAKSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- torGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of backstory
American and British speakers say backstory in essentially the same way: /ˈbæksˌtɔri/ in the US and /ˈbæksˌtɔːri/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAKS-taw-ree.
What does backstory mean?
- The previous experiences and life of a person, specifically (narratology, especially in film, television) a character in a dramatic work.“What’s the backstory of our new colleague?”
- A fictitious account of a person's history designed to conceal their actual history and motives.
Where does backstory come from?
From back- (prefix meaning ‘in, into, or towards the past’) + story.
Questions about saying backstory
How do you pronounce backstory?
Say BAKS-tor-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbæksˌtɔri/. In British English it is /ˈbæksˌtɔːri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in backstory?
Backstory has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAKS). Broken into parts: BAKS · tor · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say backstory the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbæksˌtɔri/ and the British form is /ˈbæksˌtɔːri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.