How to pronounce Balkans
Say it like BAWL-kunz. Balkans 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 Balkans. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAWL
- kunz
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Balkans 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.
- kunzKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Balkans
American and British speakers say Balkans in essentially the same way: /ˈbɔlkənz/ in the US and /ˈbɔːlkənz/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAWL-kunz.
What does Balkans mean?
- A cultural region and peninsula in Southeastern Europe, roughly equivalent to the area covered by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, sometimes including Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Slovenia, and European Turkey.
Where does Balkans come from?
Of Turkic origin; compare Turkish balkan (“wooded mountain range”).
Questions about saying Balkans
How do you pronounce Balkans?
Say BAWL-kunz. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɔlkənz/. In British English it is /ˈbɔːlkənz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Balkans?
Balkans has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAWL). Broken into parts: BAWL · kunz.
Do Americans and Brits say Balkans the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbɔlkənz/ and the British form is /ˈbɔːlkənz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.