How to pronounce backward
Say it like BAK-werd. Backward 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 backward. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAK
- werd
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Backward 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.
- werdKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of backward
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BAK-wud.
What does backward mean?
- at or to or toward the back or rear“he moved back”“tripped when he stepped backward”
- in a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal“it's easy to get the `i' and the `e' backward in words like `seize' and `siege'”“the child put her jersey on backward”
- in or to or toward a past time“set the clocks back an hour”“never look back”
- directed or facing toward the back or rear“a backward view”
- (used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature“a backward lover”
- retarded in intellectual development
Where does backward come from?
From Middle English bakwarde, abakward, equivalent to back (adverb) + -ward.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying backward
How do you pronounce backward?
Say BAK-werd. The American pronunciation is /ˈbækwɚd/. In British English it is /ˈbækwəd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in backward?
Backward has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAK). Broken into parts: BAK · werd.
Is backward pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbækwəd/ (BAK-wud).