How to pronounce black
Say it like BLAK. Black is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
VoiceSpeed
US American/blæk/BLAK
UK British/blæk/BLAK
- BLAK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Black pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BLAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of black
American and British speakers say black in essentially the same way: /blæk/ in the US and /blæk/ in the UK.
British respelling: BLAK.
What does black mean?
adjective
- Absorbing all light and reflecting none; dark and hueless.“The items around him were black in colour.”
- Without light.
- Belonging to or descended from any of various (African, Aboriginal, etc.) ethnic groups which typically have dark pigmentation of the skin. (See usage notes below.)
- The colour/color perceived in the absence of light, but also when no light is reflected, but rather absorbed.
- A black dye or pigment.
- A pen, pencil, crayon, etc., made of black pigment.
- To make black; to blacken.
- To apply blacking to (something).
- To boycott, usually as part of an industrial dispute.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with black
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of black.
Questions about saying black
How do you pronounce black?
Say BLAK. The American pronunciation is /blæk/. In British English it is /blæk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in black?
Black is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BLAK.
Do Americans and Brits say black the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /blæk/ and the British form is /blæk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.