How to pronounce bold
Say it like BOHLD. Bold is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- BOHLD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bold pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOHLDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of bold
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BOHLD.
What does bold mean?
- Courageous, daring.“Bold deeds win admiration and, sometimes, medals.”
- Visually striking; conspicuous.“the painter's bold use of colour and outline”
- Having thicker strokes than the ordinary form of the typeface.“Many bold fonts are available on this computer.”
- To make (a font or some text) bold.“Please bold all these subheads.”
Where does bold come from?
Cognate with Dutch boud (“bold, courageous, fearless”), Middle High German balt (“bold”) (whence German bald (“soon”)), Swedish båld (“bold, dauntless”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with bold
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bold.
Words that sound like bold
Questions about saying bold
How do you pronounce bold?
Say BOHLD. The American pronunciation is /boʊld/. In British English it is /bəʊld/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bold?
Bold is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BOHLD.
Is bold 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 /bəʊld/ (BOHLD).
What words sound the same as bold?
Bold sounds the same as bowled in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.