How to pronounce Balkan
Say it like BAWL-kun. Balkan has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAWL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Balkan. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAWL
- kun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Balkan pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BAWLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- kunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Balkan
American and British speakers say Balkan in essentially the same way: /ˈbɔlkən/ in the US and /ˈbɒlkən/ in the UK.
British respelling: BOL-kun.
What does Balkan mean?
- The Balkans. (This form is often used in international contexts perhaps because the languages native to the region also use a singular form.)
- A region of Turkmenistan.
Questions about saying Balkan
How do you pronounce Balkan?
Say BAWL-kun. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɔlkən/. In British English it is /ˈbɒlkən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Balkan?
Balkan has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAWL). Broken into parts: BAWL · kun.
Do Americans and Brits say Balkan the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbɔlkən/ and the British form is /ˈbɒlkən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.