How to pronounce ballpark
Say it like BAWL-park. Ballpark 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 ballpark. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAWL
- park
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ballpark 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.
- parkGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of ballpark
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BAWL-pahk.
What does ballpark mean?
- A field, stadium or park where ball, especially baseball, is played.
- The general vicinity; somewhere close; a broad approximation.“Let’s get in the ballpark, then worry about the fine details.”
- Approximate; close; on the right order of magnitude.
- To make a rough estimate of.“If you don’t have the exact expense total, just ballpark it.”
Where does ballpark come from?
From ball + park. Sense 2 related to ballpark figure.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying ballpark
How do you pronounce ballpark?
Say BAWL-park. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɔlˌpɑrk/. In British English it is /ˈbɔːlˌpɑːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ballpark?
Ballpark has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAWL). Broken into parts: BAWL · park.
Is ballpark pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbɔːlˌpɑːk/ (BAWL-pahk).