How to pronounce boilerplate
Say it like BOY-ler-playt. Boilerplate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce boilerplate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOY
- ler
- playt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Boilerplate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
- lerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- playtGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of boilerplate
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BOY-luh-playt.
What does boilerplate mean?
- A sheet of copper or steel used in the construction of a boiler.
- Any metal taking the form of sheets used in the construction of a boiler.
- A plate attached to industrial machinery, identifying information such as manufacturer, model number, serial number, and power requirements.
- Describing text or other material of a standard or routine nature.“The contract contained all the usual boilerplate clauses.”
- Formulaic, stereotypical.
- Used to refer to a non-functional spacecraft used to test configuration and procedures.“A boilerplate spacecraft was used to test the rocket.”
- To store standard text so that it can easily be retrieved for reuse.
Where does boilerplate come from?
From boiler + plate.
Questions about saying boilerplate
How do you pronounce boilerplate?
Say BOY-ler-playt. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɔɪlərˌpleɪt/. In British English it is /ˈbɔɪləˌpleɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in boilerplate?
Boilerplate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOY). Broken into parts: BOY · ler · playt.
Is boilerplate pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbɔɪləˌpleɪt/ (BOY-luh-playt).