How to pronounce bolster
Say it like BOHL-ster. Bolster has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOHL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bolster. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOHL
- ster
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bolster pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOHLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- sterKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of bolster
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BOL-stuh.
What does bolster mean?
- To brace, reinforce, secure, or support.
- A large cushion or pillow, usually cylindrical in shape.
- A pad, quilt, or anything used to hinder pressure, support part of the body, or make a bandage sit easy upon a wounded part; a compress.
- A small spacer located on top of the axle of horse-drawn wagons that gives the front wheels enough clearance to turn.
Where does bolster come from?
From Middle English bolster, bolstre, from Old English bolster (“pillow”), from Proto-West Germanic *bolstr, from Proto-Germanic *bulstraz (“pillow, cushion”).
Words that rhyme with bolster
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bolster.
Questions about saying bolster
How do you pronounce bolster?
Say BOHL-ster. The American pronunciation is /ˈboʊlstɚ/. In British English it is /ˈbɒlstə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bolster?
Bolster has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOHL). Broken into parts: BOHL · ster.
Is bolster 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 /ˈbɒlstə/ (BOL-stuh).