How to pronounce ballyhoo
Say it like bal-ee-HOO. Ballyhoo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (HOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ballyhoo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bal
- ee
- HOO
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ballyhoo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- balGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- HOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of ballyhoo
American and British speakers say ballyhoo in essentially the same way: /ˌbæliˈhu/ in the US and /ˌbæliˈhuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: bal-ee-HOO.
What does ballyhoo mean?
- Sensational or clamorous advertising or publicity.
- Noisy shouting or uproar.
- Certain species in family Hemiramphidae, inshore, surface-dwelling needlefish forming sizeable schools.
- Hemiramphus brasiliensis
- To sensationalize or make grand claims.
Where does ballyhoo come from?
Uncertain. Perhaps a shortening of the Irish village Ballyhooly, known for its rowdiness.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with ballyhoo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ballyhoo.
Questions about saying ballyhoo
How do you pronounce ballyhoo?
Say bal-ee-HOO. The American pronunciation is /ˌbæliˈhu/. In British English it is /ˌbæliˈhuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ballyhoo?
Ballyhoo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (HOO). Broken into parts: bal · ee · HOO.
Do Americans and Brits say ballyhoo the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌbæliˈhu/ and the British form is /ˌbæliˈhuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.