How to pronounce ballot
Say it like BAL-ut. Ballot 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 ballot. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAL
- ut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ballot 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.
- utKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of ballot
American and British speakers say ballot in essentially the same way: /ˈbælət/ in the US and /ˈbælət/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAL-ut.
What does ballot mean?
- a document listing the alternatives that is used in voting
- a choice that is made by counting the number of people in favor of each alternative“there were only 17 votes in favor of the motion”“they allowed just one vote per person”
- vote by ballot“The voters were balloting in this state”
Where does ballot come from?
Borrowed from Italian balota (obsolete), ballotta (“small ball, especially one used to register a vote”), from balla (“bale, bundle”) + -otta (suffix forming diminutive nouns); or from Middle French balote (obsolete), ballotte (“small ball
Words that rhyme with ballot
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ballot.
Questions about saying ballot
How do you pronounce ballot?
Say BAL-ut. The American pronunciation is /ˈbælət/. In British English it is /ˈbælət/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ballot?
Ballot has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAL). Broken into parts: BAL · ut.
Do Americans and Brits say ballot the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbælət/ and the British form is /ˈbælət/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.