How to pronounce borderline
Say it like BOR-der-lyne. Borderline has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce borderline. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOR
- der
- lyne
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Borderline pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- lyneGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of borderline
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BAW-duh-lyne.
What does borderline mean?
- Nearly; not clearly on one side or the other of a border or boundary, ambiguous.“I would rather hire a talented layman than a university graduate with borderline qualifications.”
- Of questionable taste or acceptability; approaching bad taste.“Your borderline remarks about my aunt’s dress destroyed my evening.”
- Exhibiting or characteristic of borderline personality disorder.
- A boundary or accepted division; a border.“She lives on the borderline between reality and madness.”
- A person who has borderline personality disorder.
- Nearly; not entirely but nevertheless to a great extent.“He is borderline hypoglycemic and needs to monitor his sugar intake.”
Where does borderline come from?
From border + line.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying borderline
How do you pronounce borderline?
Say BOR-der-lyne. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɔrdɚˌlaɪn/. In British English it is /ˈbɔːdəˌlaɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in borderline?
Borderline has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOR). Broken into parts: BOR · der · lyne.
Is borderline 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 /ˈbɔːdəˌlaɪn/ (BAW-duh-lyne).