How to pronounce ballast
Say it like BAL-ust. Ballast has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ballast. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAL
- ust
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ballast pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ustKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of ballast
American and British speakers say ballast in essentially the same way: /ˈbæləst/ in the US and /ˈbæləst/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAL-ust.
What does ballast mean?
- Heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship (or in the gondola of a balloon), to provide stability.
- Anything that steadies emotion or the mind.
- Coarse gravel or similar material laid to form a bed for roads or railroads, or in making concrete; track ballast.
- To stabilize or load a ship with ballast.
- To lay ballast on the bed of a railroad track.
- To weigh down with a ballast.
Where does ballast come from?
From Middle English bar (“bare”) + last (“load”).
Words that rhyme with ballast
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ballast.
Questions about saying ballast
How do you pronounce ballast?
Say BAL-ust. The American pronunciation is /ˈbæləst/. In British English it is /ˈbæləst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ballast?
Ballast has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAL). Broken into parts: BAL · ust.
Do Americans and Brits say ballast the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbæləst/ and the British form is /ˈbæləst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.