How to pronounce bogeyman
Say it like BOH-ghee-man. Bogeyman has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bogeyman. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOH
- ghee
- man
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bogeyman 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.
- gheeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- manGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of bogeyman
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BOH-ghih-man.
What does bogeyman mean?
- A menacing, ghost-like monster in children's stories.
- Any make-believe threat, especially one used to intimidate or distract, or a real threat greatly exaggerated for those purposes; often taking the form of a notorious historical personage suggested to return as a revenant to punish for wrongdoing.“The bogeyman of a Halloween-candy poisoner behind every door has animated occasional moral panics against trick-or-treating.”
Where does bogeyman come from?
From bogey + -man.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying bogeyman
How do you pronounce bogeyman?
Say BOH-ghee-man. The American pronunciation is /ˈboʊɡiˌmæn/. In British English it is /ˈbəʊɡɪˌmæn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bogeyman?
Bogeyman has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOH). Broken into parts: BOH · ghee · man.
Is bogeyman 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 /ˈbəʊɡɪˌmæn/ (BOH-ghih-man).