How to pronounce blackface
Say it like BLAK-fays. Blackface has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BLAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce blackface. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BLAK
- fays
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Blackface 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.
- faysGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of blackface
American and British speakers say blackface in essentially the same way: /ˈblækˌfeɪs/ in the US and /ˈblækˌfeɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: BLAK-fays.
What does blackface mean?
- The practice in which a nonblack person blackens their face using theatrical makeup in order to portray a caricature of a black person.
- A sheep of the Scottish Blackface breed.
- Synonym of boldface.
Where does blackface come from?
From black + face.
Questions about saying blackface
How do you pronounce blackface?
Say BLAK-fays. The American pronunciation is /ˈblækˌfeɪs/. In British English it is /ˈblækˌfeɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in blackface?
Blackface has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BLAK). Broken into parts: BLAK · fays.
Do Americans and Brits say blackface the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈblækˌfeɪs/ and the British form is /ˈblækˌfeɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.