How to pronounce bo
Say it like BOH. Bo is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of bo
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BOH.
What does bo mean?
- An exclamation used to startle or frighten.
- Fellow, chap, boy.
- A quarterstaff, especially in an oriental context.
Words that rhyme with bo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bo.
Words that sound like bo
Questions about saying bo
How do you pronounce bo?
Say BOH. The American pronunciation is /boʊ/. In British English it is /bəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bo?
Bo is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BOH.
Is bo pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /bəʊ/ (BOH).
What words sound the same as bo?
Bo sounds the same as beau, bow in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.