How to pronounce bootstrap
Say it like BOOT-strap. Bootstrap has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOOT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bootstrap. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOOT
- strap
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bootstrap pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOOTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- strapGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of bootstrap
American and British speakers say bootstrap in essentially the same way: /ˈbutˌstræp/ in the US and /ˈbuːtˌstræp/ in the UK.
British respelling: BOOT-strap.
What does bootstrap mean?
- A loop (leather or other material) sewn at the side or top rear of a boot to help in pulling the boot on.
- A means of advancing oneself or accomplishing something without aid.“He used his business experience as a bootstrap to win voters.”
- The process by which the operating system of a computer is loaded into its memory.
- To help (oneself) without the aid of others.“Sam spent years bootstrapping himself through college.”
- To load the operating system into the memory of a computer. Usually shortened to boot.
- To compile the tools that will be used to compile the rest of a system or program.
Where does bootstrap come from?
From boot + strap. The sense "pull up (without aid)" comes from the phrase pull oneself up by one's bootstraps.
Questions about saying bootstrap
How do you pronounce bootstrap?
Say BOOT-strap. The American pronunciation is /ˈbutˌstræp/. In British English it is /ˈbuːtˌstræp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bootstrap?
Bootstrap has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOOT). Broken into parts: BOOT · strap.
Do Americans and Brits say bootstrap the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbutˌstræp/ and the British form is /ˈbuːtˌstræp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.