How to pronounce bones
Say it like BOHNZ. Bones is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bones. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/boʊnz/BOHNZ
UK British/bəʊnz/BOHNZ
- BOHNZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bones pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOHNZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of bones
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BOHNZ.
What does bones mean?
noun
- (used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
Questions about saying bones
How do you pronounce bones?
Say BOHNZ. The American pronunciation is /boʊnz/. In British English it is /bəʊnz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bones?
Bones is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BOHNZ.
Is bones 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 /bəʊnz/ (BOHNZ).