How to pronounce balk
Say it like BAWK. Balk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce balk. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAWK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Balk pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BAWKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of balk
American and British speakers say balk in essentially the same way: /bɔk/ in the US and /bɔːk/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAWK.
What does balk mean?
- To be unwilling to do something; to refuse to proceed or do or allow something, either in general or only temporarily.
- To stop short and refuse to go on or do something (such as jump).“The horse balked.”
- To move fitfully, stopping frequently.
- An uncultivated ridge formed in the open field system, caused by the action of plowing.
- The wall of earth at the edge of an excavation.
- Beam, crossbeam; squared timber; a tie beam of a house, stretching from wall to wall, especially when laid so as to form a loft, "the balks".
Where does balk come from?
From Middle English balke, from Old English balca, either from or influenced by Old Norse bálkr (“partition, ridge of land”), from Proto-Germanic *balkô.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with balk
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of balk.
Words that sound like balk
Questions about saying balk
How do you pronounce balk?
Say BAWK. The American pronunciation is /bɔk/. In British English it is /bɔːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in balk?
Balk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BAWK.
Do Americans and Brits say balk the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bɔk/ and the British form is /bɔːk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as balk?
Balk sounds the same as bock in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.